Hurricane Ian Personal/Business : Businesses offering services and assistance for Floridians impacted

U-Haul International, Inc.: 

  • U-Haul is offering 30 days of free storage and U-Box container usage at 43 Florida locations. As families evacuate and create their emergency plans ahead of Hurricane Ian, U-Haul is uniquely positioned to offer assistance. As part of our disaster relief program, we’re able to provide secure locations for Florida residents to protect their possessions. Find more information here.

Comcast:

  • Comcast has opened Xfinity WiFi hotspots in Central, North and Southwest Florida, and the Panhandle for Xfinity customers and non-customers to stay connected during and after the storm. Details are available here.

AT&T:

  • AT&T is waiving talk, text, and data overage charges for AT&T Postpaid & PREPAID customers with billing addresses in 828 zip codes across Florida from September 28, 2022, through October 28, 2022, to keep customers connected before, during and after any major storm event.
  • To assist the recovery, AT&T is now welcoming other carriers’ customers to roam on AT&T networks so they can connect, even if their carrier’s service isn’t available after the storm. Once this roaming begins, customers will automatically be connected to AT&T network.
  • Only 4 AT&T Corporate store locations remain closed at this time. Those store are located in Sarasota, Naples, Port Charlotte and Venice. All other Corporate store locations in the impacted area around the state are open and ready to address customer needs.

Charter Communications:

  • Charter Communications has opened nearly 175,000 Spectrum Out-of-Home WiFi access points across Florida, Georgia and South Carolina in support of preparation for and response to Hurricane Ian. Information on how to access the points is here.

T-Mobile:

  • T-Mobile has four Community Support Trucks loaded with supplies including chargers, charging cords and cell phones, as well as three wi-fi trailers with the ability to charge up to 80 phones each, along with Wi-Fi.  These assets are staged just outside of the impact area and will be deployed as soon as it is safe to do so. Most T-Mobile customers are on plans with unlimited talk, text and data, for those who aren’t, T-Mobile continues to offer unlimited talk, text, and data starting September 28 through October 3 for those most impacted by the storm.  Text to Give opportunities are also available and the most updated information from T-Mobile can be found at https://www.t-mobile.com/news/community/hurricane-ian 

Verizon:

  • Active customers in affected ZIP codes impacted by Hurricane Ian will have access to unlimited domestic Talk, Text & Data through 10/4. Click here to see eligible zip codes.
  • Verizon’s crisis response team will also provide free communications support to public safety agencies responding to the hurricane, setting up portable cell sites, Wi-Fi hotspots, free charging stations and other services.

SpaceX:

  • SpaceX is supporting the Florida Division of Emergency Management with Starlink high-speed satellite internet service to enable connectivity for recovery and first response efforts.

Anheuser-Busch:

  • At the request of the American Red Cross, Anheuser-Busch is delivering seven truckloads – more than 360,000 cans – of emergency drinking water to support local communities in response of Hurricane Ian in Florida.

Wells Fargo & Company:

  • On September 30, 2022, Wells Fargo is checking on their employees and locations that were in the path of the storm. 52 of the 600 branches are currently closed. Servicing is limited at this time, but Wells Fargo has generators and mobile ATMs ready to mobilize.
  • Wells Fargo announced that they are donating $1 million to the American Red Cross and three other charitable organizations who are supporting response to Hurricane Ian. Additionally Wells Fargo will be enabling donations via their ATMs so that customer are offered the option to donate to the American Red Cross.

Wawa:

  • Find information on gas availability at Wawa HERE
  • Wawa has made a $500,000 donation to the Florida Disaster Fund to help aid in recovery efforts.
  • Wawa stores in Florida are providing free coffee and fountain beverages to all first responders in Florida, including police, fire, EMT and the National Guard for all they are doing to support and serve our communities during Hurricane Ian response and recovery efforts.

Airbnb:

  • Airbnb has launched a special website to help Hurricane Ian Relocation efforts for impacted residents at Airbnb.com/hurricaneianflorida.  The page features open (vacant and available for rent) properties that are available to be booked outside of the FEMA Disaster zones.  As communities become fully restored with water and electricity, Airbnb will add more open properties to Airbnb.com/hurricaneianflorida
  • For Florida residents displaced due to Hurricane Ian, Airbnb is also working with their nonprofit partners to offer vouchers for temporary housing at Airbnb properties.  To learn more about how the voucher program works, see Airbnb’s full press release at  https://news.airbnb.com/airbnb-org-hurricane-relief-efforts/.  Separately, Airbnb has committed $250,000 to the Florida Disaster Relief Fund to support Florida communities impacted by Hurricane Ian.

Accommodation and Lodging Partners:

Trump International Beach Resort: 

  • The Trump International Beach Resort in Sunny Isles has implemented special discounted rates for Floridians needing accommodations in the wake of Hurricane Ian.  The resort welcomes pets under 40 pounds, and as a condo hotel, offers kitchens and laundry facilities in all of their rooms. To book a reservation, please call the hotel at 1-866-976-0383, or use this link

Expedia Group:

  • Expedia, in partnership with VISIT FLORIDA, to support the Emergency Accommodations Portal at Expedia.com/Florida which is being updated with the latest on available listings.
  • Expedia has been in contact with VISIT FLORIDA and has reached out to their travel partners to encourage them to waive cancellation fees, and reached out to accommodations to encourage them to waive pet restrictions. Consumers should ask in advance regarding any pet restrictions, so they are not surprised.

Rosen Hotels & Resorts

  • Rosen Hotels & Resorts has activated its Florida Resident Distress Rate. While the distress rates are being offered, Rosen hotels, which are pet-friendly, while not charge an additional fee for pets. The hotels also offer free WiFi. To book a reservation, call 866-33-ROSEN (76736)

State Partner Updates:

Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR):

  • DBPR is coordinating with wholesale distributors of prescription drugs and medical gases to provide exceptions for the emergency distribution of these critical supplies.
  • The Disaster Contractors Network contains a list of licensed contractors that can be searched by contractor name, county, and type.  This can be found at, www.DCNonline.org

VISIT FLORIDA:

Volunteer Florida:

Florida Housing Finance Corporation (Florida Housing):

  • Florida Housing has ensured that all current listings are up to date in the event that families need to quickly relocate at www.FloridaHousingSearch.org.
  • Each SHIP office has an adopted disaster strategy that allows for assistance in the immediate aftermath of a declared disaster. Strategies may include temporary relocation and rental assistance, debris removal and short-term repairs to prevent further damage to the structure or to allow for occupancy until further repairs are made.

The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association

  • Working to get the word out to lodging establishments to relax their pet policies and monitoring available lodging from Tallahassee to Pensacola and Palm Beach, Broward and Dade.
  • The FRLA has been working with Chick-fil-A, Firehouse Subs, Burger King, McDonald’s, 4Rivers, Texas Roadhouse, Culver’s, Popeyes, Benihana, Anna Maria Oyster Bar, Great Southern, Darden, Brinker, Red Lobster, Waffle House, Bloomin Brands to bring help.

Enterprise Florida:

  • Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) is in regular communication with seaport, rail, airport, fuel, and power providers to coordinate between public and private sector partners ensuring that assistance, goods, and services during and after the storm are being delivered.
  • Enterprise Florida activated its Disaster Assistance page with a list of state and federal resources available for businesses to utilize in their mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery activities.

CareerSource Florida:

  • CareerSource Florida is assessing needs at local workforce development board partners in counties impacted by Hurricane Ian. We are working with our partners at DEO to support recovery efforts and help connect affected residents with temporary employment and other recovery assistance.
  • All career centers are open with the exception of CareerSource Southwest Florida’s centers in Port Charlotte and Naples. To find your local career center, visit Find Your Local Team or the Career Center Directory.

The following state agencies have issued waivers:

  • The Florida Department of Transportation – size and weight restrictions.
  • The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles – hours of service.

To obtain a copy of a State Agency Waiver, email ESF18@EM.MyFlorida.com