Keeping his commitment to see our region through to a full recovery from Hurricane Ian, this week Governor DeSantis again visited Southwest Florida to make some key announcements on Hurricane relief. 

Mental Health Resources 

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) will utilize $13.8 million in grant funding to support and expand mental health resources for Floridians impacted by Hurricane Ian. This includes on-site services at Family Resource Support Centers and expanding call lines and other resources for survivors. To date, DCF has provided crisis counseling to over 20,000 individuals struggling to recover following the storm. Additionally, DCF has utilized peer-support lines where survivors of Hurricane Ian can speak to survivors of Hurricane Michael.

Housing Assistance

The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) has obligated more than $500 million in public assistance funding to communities impacted by Hurricane Ian, and Florida’s first ever state led sheltering and housing program has installed more than 140 travel trailers for Floridians who lost their homes due to Hurricane Ian, more than the 80 total distributed by FEMA. The Florida Division of Emergency Management has more than 2,400 additional trailers ordered, and the Governor has directed FDEM to cut through any red tape preventing trailers from reaching Floridians in need. To apply for state-led housing recovery programs, visit IanRecovery.fl.gov/unite.

Supporting Our Teachers

$1 million awarded through the Florida Disaster Fund will support organizations of school districts in five of the hardest hit counties to support teachers and other school employees who were impacted by Hurricane Ian. Support organizations in the following counties will receive awards:

• Lee County ($250,000)
• Collier County ($250,000)
• Sarasota County ($200,000)
• Hardee County ($150,000)
• DeSoto County ($150,000)

Next week, I will be hosting our local delegation in the President’s Office for a call with FEMA officials and our State Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie to discuss the comprehensive effort by federal and state partners to help our communities recover and rebuild.

Respectfully,

Kathleen

Kathleen C. Passidomo

Senate President
State Senator, District 28

Not paid for at taxpayer expense.

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