NMMA - National Marine Manufacturers Association Inc.
10/18/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/17/2024 23:10
How to Find Disaster Relief After Hurricanes Helene, Milton and Other Storms
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, Milton, and several other powerful hurricanes that have impacted the U.S. this year, businesses and boaters may be eligible for aid and assistance at the state and federal levels.
State Aid
Relief is available through state-level agencies that have partnered with federal disaster programs to assist boaters with the rebuilding process.
Below is a list of states and links for more information:
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Florida: https://www.floridadisaster.org/dem/recovery/individual-assistance/
- Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis recently announced that the Florida Department of Financial Services will host four "insurance villages" around Florida so that policyholders can meet with their insurance carriers to file claims.
- The locations are Bradenton, Clearwater, Lakeland, and Plant City. More information can be found here: https://www.myfloridacfo.com/news/pressreleases/press-release-details/2024/10/14/cfo-jimmy-patronis-to-deploy-four-hurricane-insurance-villages
- Georgia: https://gema.georgia.gov/assistance/individual-assistance
- North Carolina: https://www.ncdps.gov/our-organization/emergency-management/hurricane-helene
- Tennessee: https://www.tn.gov/tema/updates/hurricane-helene.html
Federal Aid
Anyone impacted by the recent hurricanes is encouraged to visit www.DisasterAssistance.gov to apply for relief.
Small businesses may be eligible for the Small Business Administration's Economic Injury Disaster Loans, of which more information can be found here.
According to the SBA website, businesses must meet the following criteria to qualify for economic injury:
- The business was directly impacted by the disaster
- The business cannot cover expenses due to the disaster and/or debt payments
- The business was physically located in the declared disaster area
Impacted businesses and boaters should be aware that funding may soon be exhausted due to federal budget constraints. The NMMA government relations team is closely following disaster relief discussions, and House Speaker Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) has signaled that he will not call the House back into session until after the November elections to discuss additional hurricane relief funding.
Additional relief organizations can be found here.
NMMA is committed to ensuring NMMA members receive the help they need to recover and rebuild. In the days ahead, NMMA will be closely monitoring the legislative landscape and appropriations of funds to help our industry's small businesses and those who may be in need of assistance. If you have been impacted by Hurricanes Helene or Milton, please reach out to our team via [email protected].