Disaster Relief Grants and for Hurricane Milton and Future Preparedness

Hurricane Milton began swept across the Florida Peninsula on Wednesday night, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake before moving into the Atlantic Ocean on today. As dawn broke, much of east-central Florida and parts of Georgia remained under storm-surge warnings, with tropical storm warnings extending up to South Carolina. Despite sparing Tampa from a direct hit, the storm brought significant damage to other parts of the state.

The hurricane made landfall in Siesta Key, about 70 miles south of Tampa, as a Category 3 storm. In its wake, it knocked out power to more than 3 million people and triggered a series of tornadoes that are complicating recovery efforts. Hillsborough, Pinellas, Sarasota, and Lee counties were among the hardest hit, with local officials urging residents to stay indoors due to downed power lines, flooded roads, and blocked bridges.

While Tampa avoided the devastating storm surge many feared, areas south of the city were not as fortunate. Some regions received up to 18 inches of rain, adding to the misery already caused by Hurricane Helene just days earlier. The combination of flooding, high winds, and tornadoes has made the recovery process challenging, especially in places where infrastructure remains compromised.

Officials confirmed at least five to eight deaths are linked to Hurricane Milton. This highlights the deadly impact of the storm. First responders continue to work around the clock to restore power and clear debris, but the road to recovery will likely take time.

As the storm moves out to sea, many Floridians are left grappling with the aftermath, hoping for a swift recovery from the back-to-back storms.

Government and Foundation Resources for Preparedness and Recovery

The comprehensive list below has helpful links for up-to-date news and weather, road conditions, where to find shelter, and a number of resources to help keep Floridians safe. For information about resources, visit disasterassistance.gov.

Disaster Relief

• 1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362)
• FEMA Prepare
• Florida Hurricane Milton
• Search Your Location
• FEMA Mobile Products (FEMA App.)
• Disaster Recovery Center Locator (DRC) Locator
• DisasterAssistance.gov
• Get Ready Now
• Redcross.org/shelter 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767)
• Red Cross Mobile Apps and Voice-Enabled Skills/Actions
• Contact Loved Ones
• Red Cross Capital Area | North Florida
• Red Cross Central Florida | Florida Region
• Red Cross Mid Florida | Central Florida
• Red Cross Tampa Bay | Central Florida

Resources 

• 2-1-1; Phone assistance 2-1-1 (For help locating clothing, food, or resources for your family, 24/7)
• Alert Florida (To sign-up for emergency alerts and public safety notifications.)
• Emergency Information | Florida Department of Health 
• Florida 511 
• Florida Hurricane Resources | Florida Education Association
• Florida Power Outages Map
• FPL Power Tracker
• Hurricane Milton | FloridaDisaster.org
• Salvation Army Location Search
• The Florida Humane Society: 954-974-6152
• The Salvation Army Florida

Hurricane Preparedness and Recovery

• Hurricanes | Ready.gov
• Hurricanes and Kids | Ready.gov
• Hurricane Safety | American Red Cross
• Pet Disaster Preparedness
• What to Do Before the Tropical Storm or Hurricane | National Weather Service
• Flood Relief | American Red Cross
• Flood Safety | American Red Cross
• Flood Safety Tips and Resources | National Weather Service
• Floods and Your Safety | CDC
• Floods | Ready.gov

GrantWatch is also pitching in with a list of disaster Relief grants currently accepting applications that could be of help:

Government Agencies and Nonprofits for Disaster Relief Efforts

USA state, tribal, and local government agencies and nonprofit organizations for relief efforts following natural disasters. Funding is for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and restoring public infrastructure after hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, or wildfires.

Recovery Support for Households in Disaster Areas

Grants to USA and territories individuals and households for disaster relief efforts and recovery support. Funding assists residents who have been negatively affected by natural disasters.

Families in Need in the Wake of a Disaster

Financial assistance to USA families in need following a disaster. Funding is intended to quickly provide supplemental nutritional assistance to eligible families who normally receive food benefits. 

Emergency Financial Assistance for Food and Beverage Workers

Grants to USA individuals working in the food and beverage industry for emergency financial assistance. Funding helps to provide relief in the event of unforeseen circumstances, like natural disasters.

Recovery after Storm Damage

Grants to Tennessee nonprofit organizations, units of government, and educational institutions in eligible counties to address the critical needs of local communities affected by storms.

Livestock Producers to Mitigate Losses

Indemnity program to USA livestock producers and owners to mitigate losses exceeding normal mortality due to adverse weather events.

Farmers and Ranchers to Recover from Natural Disasters

Financial assistance to USA and territories farmers and ranchers to recover from recent natural disasters and prepare for future risks.

Protect Land and Infrastructure Following a Natural Disaster

Technical and financial assistance to USA governmental and tribal agencies to protect land and infrastructure following a natural disaster. 

Emergency Response Services

Grants of up to $50,000 to USA and Puerto Rico fire departments, EMS agencies, law enforcement agencies, public safety and nonprofit organizations, and schools in eligible areas to improve emergency response capacity.

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