Hurricane Michael Resource List
EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)
DUA is assistance for displaced workers or employers who have lost their jobs or have suffered a temporary work stoppage as a result of a natural disaster.
DUA is available to those who:
- Worked or were self-employed or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment;
- Are not able to work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of the disaster;
- Can establish that the work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their principal source of income;
- Do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits from any state;
- Cannot perform work or self-employment because of an injury as a direct result of the disaster; or
- Became the breadwinner or major supporter of a household because of the death of the head of household.
DUA in only available to Individuals affected in the designated-disaster areas and applications must be filed by November 14, 2018. For more information, visit: http://www.floridajobs.org/news-center/DEO-Press/2018/10/15/federal-reemployment-assistance-available-to-individuals-impacted-by-hurricane-michael
Employ Florida
Employ Florida within the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity has created a website to assist employers and jobseekers in finding disaster related employees for employers looking for workers and employment information for individuals looking for disaster related employment.
For more information, visit: https://disasterrecovery.employflorida.com/vosnet/Default.aspx
TAXES
Extension for Filing Sales and Use Tax, Tourist Development Tax, Reemployment Tax, and Fuel Tax
The Florida Department of Revenue has issued an emergency order extending the filing dates for sales and use tax, tourist development tax, reemployment tax and fuel tax returns and payments due for the September and October reporting periods to December 7, 2018. This order applies only to the 16 counties impacted by Hurricane Michael and covered by the federal Major Disaster Declaration. These taxes and returns are normally due on the 1st day of the month, and late after the 20th day of the month. As a result of Hurricane Michael, the due date will be December 7, 2018. Electronically filed submissions initiated by 5:00 p.m. on December 7, 2018 will be deemed timely filed.
For information regarding this filing and payment extension for Florida sales and use tax tourist development tax, reemployment tax, and fuel tax, visit: http://floridarevenue.com/Pages/hurricanemichael.aspx
Extension for Filing Corporate Income Tax
The Florida Department of Revenue has issued an emergency order extending due dates for corporate income tax filers impacted by Hurricane Michael following the recent declaration from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Eligible taxpayers that file Florida corporate income tax returns, as well as Florida corporate income tax installment payments, with original due dates or extended due dates that occurred on or after Oct 7, 2018 will now have a due date of March 15, 2019. This order applies only to the 16 counties impacted by Hurricane Michael and covered by the federal Major Disaster Declaration.
The current list of eligible counties is available on the Tax Relief for Victims of Hurricane Michael in Florida webpage on IRS.gov. Impacted taxpayers outside the designated FEMA disaster areas who require assistance with corporate tax filing may contact the Department’s taxpayer services phone line at 1-850-488-6800.
The Department’s taxpayer services phone line is available at 1-850-488-6800 for taxpayers who have additional questions. Visit the Florida Corporate Income Tax webpage for additional details.
For further information, visit: http://floridarevenue.com/Pages/hurricanemichael.aspx
IRS Federal Tax Relief for Florida Victims of Hurricane Michael
The IRS is postponing certain deadlines for taxpayers who reside or have a business in Florida. For instance, certain deadlines falling on or after October 7, 2018 and before February 28, 2019, are granted additional time to file through February 28, 2019. This includes taxpayers who had a valid extension to file their 2017 return that was due to run out on October 15, 2018. It also includes the quarterly estimated income tax payments originally due on January 15, 2019 and the quarterly payroll and excise tax returns normally due on October 31, 2018 and January 31, 2019. It also includes tax-exempt organizations that operate on a calendar-year basis and had an automatic extension due to run out on November 15, 2018. In addition, penalties on payroll and excise tax deposits due on or after October 7, 2018, and before October 22, 2018, will be abated as long as the deposits are made by October 22, 2018.
For more information, visit: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-relief-for-victims-of-hurricane-michael-in-florida
CONTRACTORS
Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation Natural Disaster Guide
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation is responsible for regulating and licensing a number of professions in Florida including many construction contractors. The link below contains information on how to prevent becoming a victim of unlicensed activity and also verifying the license of contractors before you hire them as well as other important information.
For more information, visit: http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/documents/HurricaneGuide_web.pdf
Florida Disaster Contractors Network
The Florida Disaster Contractors Network is an online tool that allows contractors and building materials suppliers in Florida to get their name out to property owners needing construction services in the aftermath of storms or other natural disasters. By registering free of charge on the Disaster Contractors Network, contractors and suppliers can advertise to the general public what type of goods and services they offer and connect with property owners needing those services in rebuilding/repairing their property after the storm. Property owners needing services can go to the same website, enter the county they are in and search for the specific construction services or supplies they need.
For more information, visit: www.dcnonline.org
Operation Blue Roof
Operation Blue Roof is partnership between the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency that provides a temporary covering of blue plastic sheeting to help reduce further damage to property until permanent repairs can be made. This program is only available in certain Florida counties impacted by Hurricane Michael.
For more information, visit: http://www.sad.usace.army.mil/Missions/Readiness-and-Contingency-Operations/Storms/Hurricane-Michael/
LOANS
Florida Disaster Emergency Loan Program
The Florida Disaster Emergency Loan Program provides a source of expedient cash flow to Florida small businesses that have been physically and/or economically impacted by a storm. These short-term, interest-free working capital loans are intended to “bridge the gap” between the time a major catastrophe hits and when a business has secured longer term recovery resources, such as sufficient profits from a revived business, receipt of payments on insurance claims or federal disaster assistance.
Interest free loans of up to $50,000 are available and the application deadline is December 7, 2018.
For more information, visit: http://www.floridadisasterloan.org/
Federal Disaster Loan Program from the Small Business Administration
What Types of Disaster Loans are Available?
Certain counties in federally declared disaster areas are eligible for two business loans from the Small Business Administration.
- Business Physical Disaster Loans – Loans to businesses to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by the business, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery and equipment. Businesses of any size are eligible. Private, non-profit organizations such as charities, churches, private universities, etc., are also eligible. The deadline to apply for this loan is December 10, 2018.
- Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) – Working capital loans to help small businesses and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. These loans are intended to assist through the disaster recovery period. The deadline to apply for this loan is July 11, 2019.
The maximum amount that can be borrowed under these loan programs is $2 million.
For more information on federal disaster loan programs for businesses and to apply online from the Small Business Administration, visit: https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela
INSURANCE
Insurance Policies Protected from Cancellation
Due to Hurricane Michael, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) has issued an Emergency Order that protects most types of insurance policies from being cancelled in 16 counties affected by Hurricane Michael from October 7 to January 7, 2019.
If your workers’ compensation insurance policy is issued through FUBA Workers’ Comp and your policy was scheduled to cancel during this time period, we have reinstated your policy and mailed you a Notice of Reinstatement. Please note that premium will be collected on the new policy period. If you have any questions, please call our Policy Services Department at 888-262-4483.
Click here for a copy of the Emergency Order from OIR.
MISCELLANEOUS
FloridaDisaster.biz
For information on storm preparation before, during and after a storm, as well as business damage assistance and other business related emergency operations assistance, visit: http://www.floridadisaster.biz
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
This is the main page for up-to-date resources and information on the federal response to Hurricane Michael. For more information, visit: https://www.fema.gov/hurricane-michael
National Center for Disaster Fraud
The National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) is the result of a partnership between the U.S. Department of Justice and various law enforcement and regulatory agencies to form a national coordinating agency within the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice to improve and further the detection, prevention, investigation, and prosecution of fraud related to natural and man-made disasters, and to advocate for the victims of such fraud.
For information visit: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud
Florida Division of Emergency Management
For information on Florida specific disasters and impending disasters, visit: www.floridadisaster.org
Florida Traffic Information
For information on up-to-the-minute traffic and transit information for Florida, visit: www.FL511.com
Office of the Florida Governor
For Hurricane Michael specific Florida governmental news releases and announcements please visit: www.flgov.com
Office of Florida Chief Financial Officer Consumer Help Line
Insurance experts are available to assist home and business owners with all insurance-related questions and concerns from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. Suspected fraud can be reported via the Helpline. The help line can be reached at 1-877-693-5236, Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, EST.
For more information about other insurance related Hurricane Michael resources as well as Department of Financial Services (DFS) temporary insurance villages dates and times please visit: https://www.myfloridacfo.com/division/Consumers/HurricaneMichael.htm