Volusia Business Resources and its affiliate partners are committed to providing local area businesses with the most up-to-date information regarding Hurricane Milton recovery resources to help during this trying time.
Resource Quick Links
- Financial Resources
- Reporting Damage
- Property Damage Recovery
- Choosing a Contractor
- Permit Assistance
- Property Tax Relief Disaster Guide
- Disaster Unemployment Assistance
- Housing Assistance
- SNAP Food Replacement
- Federal Tax Relief
- Report Price Gouging
Financial Resources
Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program Activated

FloridaCommerce has activated the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, making $50 million available for businesses impacted by Hurricane Milton. Volusia County small business owners and sole proprietors in need of assistance are encouraged to visit the link below to apply for the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program.
The program provides short-term, zero-interest loans to small businesses that experienced economic injury or physical damage due to Hurricane Milton. Interested applicants can apply now through Dec. 4 or until all available funds are expended. Eligible small businesses may apply for loans of up to $50,000 through the program. Loans of up to $100,000 are available for agriculture and aquaculture small businesses, and loans of up to $150,000 are available for citrus and cattle operations.
Learn more about requirements and to apply at: https://floridacommerce.my.site.com/RebuildFloridaBusinessLoanFund/s
SBA Disaster Assistance Loans

Explore the Small Business Administrations (SBA) low-interest disaster loans to help businesses and homeowners recover from declared disasters. Types of disaster loans available include physical damage, mitigation assistance, economic injury disaster loans and military reservist loans.
View options at: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance
FEMA Disaster Assistance
Volusia County residents who were impacted by Hurricane Milton can now apply for federal assistance, as FEMA has officially declared the county a disaster area. This declaration unlocks individual and public assistance, as well as hazard mitigation, to help in recovery. Residents can submit their applications online at www.disasterassistance.gov, through the FEMA mobile app, or by calling 800-621-3362.
Reporting Damage
Business Damage Assessment Survey

FloridaCommerce has activated the Business Damage Assessment Survey to measure impact of damage caused by Hurricane Milton. Business owners can self-report physical and economic damage caused by Hurricane Milton. Survey responses will allow the state to expedite Hurricane Milton recovery efforts by gathering data and assessing the needs of impacted businesses. Businesses can complete the survey online by visiting FloridaDisaster.biz and selecting “Hurricane Milton” from the dropdown menu.
Submit Damage Photos to Volusia County Online Portal
Volusia County officials urge residents who sustained property damage from the recent hurricane to submit photos of the damage through an online portal available on the County’s website or through the Volusia Emergency Management app. This process, which complements the efforts of crews actively surveying damage in the community, will help assess whether the area qualifies for federal disaster aid.
The online portal will prompt residents to provide their name, address, phone number, email address, and a brief description of the damage. Residents can upload up to five photos per submission, exhibiting both exterior and interior damage to their property. If additional images are needed, residents may make multiple submissions. Residents unable to digitally submit property damage may contact the Citizens Information Center (CIC) at 866-345-0345 to report damage. The CIC is open until 5 p.m. today.
Direct link to online portal: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/02195215c26348d5b498cdc8ee4d2d60
Post-Hurricane Business Status Check

The Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce has opened a post hurricane status survey for businesses to communicate if opened (especially service-related). Post your status on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=931289052365763&set=a.548222907339048
The Port Orange South Daytona Chamber of Commerce has opened a post hurricane business damage assessment survey to understand the challenges businesses are facing and to develop effective support strategies. Please take the survey at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sv/EC0ynEo.
The Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce has opened a post hurricane status survey for businesses to communicate if opened, temporarily closed and any assistance needs. Please take the survey at https://svcoc.growthzoneapp.com/ap/Form/Fill/Lv692smL
Statewide Business Closures by County
Updates on business closures and business resources in affected counties are consistently being updated at FloridaDisaster.biz.
Property Damage Recovery
Choosing a Contractor

As Volusia County residents recover from Hurricane Milton, property owners are cleaning up, repairing and rebuilding their homes and businesses. Officials from Volusia County’s Emergency Management and Building and Code divisions urge residents to be extra careful when hiring unknown contractors. Residents should be especially alert for door-to-door solicitors who promise to speed up the permit process or ask for large cash deposits or advance payments in full.
Look first to licensed local contractors who have performed well in the past. If they cannot help you, ask them to recommend another reputable contractor.
Most contractors in the building industry are honest, but disasters attract scam artists. Residents should hire contractors who are licensed by the state and/or the county. If a contractor is not properly licensed, the homeowner could be sued if he or she is injured on the job. Most homeowners’ insurance policies will not pay a claim if the homeowner has contracted with an unlicensed individual.
To find out if a person is locally licensed or state certified, call Volusia County’s Contractor Licensing Office at 386-736-5957, option 2 or visit the county’s Connect Live site at www.connectlivepermits.org and choose the “contractor tab”.
Search for state-certified or registered contractors by clicking on the “Verify a license tab” at: www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr
Blue Roof Program

The Florida Division of Emergency Management has announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, has opened Operation Blue Roof through Tuesday, Nov. 5. The program is available for impacted residents in multiple counties, including Volusia County.
This program is a free service for homeowners and permanently occupied rental properties, providing fiber-reinforced, industrial-strength sheeting to protect storm-damaged roofs until homeowners can make permanent repairs.
Residents impacted by Hurricane Milton can sign up for this no-cost service by visiting blueroof.gov, calling 888-ROOF-BLU (888-766-3258), or visiting a Right of Entry collection center throughout the affected areas. Collection center locations are listed on blueroof.gov, where residents can sign up for Blue Roof assistance using a Right of Entry form, which gathers information about the residence.
Volusia County Waives Fees for Applications, Permits, and Plan Reviews Related to Damage from Hurricane Milton
The Volusia County Council has waived application, permit, and plan review fees for the repair and reconstruction of residential and commercial structures directly affected by Hurricane Milton during the October 15 meeting.
Additionally, the county will waive fees associated with the placement and installation of RV or mobile shelters, provided that a valid temporary housing permit is obtained. To qualify for the fee waiver, applicants must submit proof of damage. Acceptable forms of verification include:
- Photographs of the damaged property
- Written verification from an insurance adjuster
- Written verification from a licensed architect, engineer, or contractor
- Written verification from a county official
Available through April 30, 2025, the fee waiver only applies to the reconstruction or repair of structures returning to their previously permitted condition. Any additions or alterations to the original structure will require a separate permit, and all applicable fees will be assessed. If a variance is necessary for reconstruction, the applicant will be responsible only for the actual cost of due public and legal notices. There will be no administrative review fee for these requests.
To learn more about the permitting process or to apply for a permit, visit Permit Center (volusia.org) or call 386-736-5929.
Assistance Navigating Permitting Process

As you assess damages and proceed with rebuilding, we encourage you to utilize the Volusia County Permitting and Code Concierge Service.
A dedicated liaison will be available to assist you with navigating the county permitting process and provide guidance with addressing any code compliance issues.
Volusia County SHIP Funds to Assist Residents with Home Repairs or Relocation
Volusia County’s Community Assistance Division has State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) funding available to assist residents who need home repairs, insurance deductible payments, and/or relocation due to displacement as a direct result of Hurricane Milton. Residents must have already filed a claim with their homeowners insurance and applied for FEMA assistance.
Residents interested in applying for assistance must request a phone interview by contacting the Community Assistance Division at 386-736-5955 or communityassistance@volusia.org.
Applicants must own and occupy their home and live in Volusia County, but not within the city limits of Deltona or Daytona Beach. Residents applying for assistance for manufactured homes are eligible only if the home was constructed after June 1994 and they own the land where the home is located.
Visit Volusia.org for complete details.
Property Taxes After a Disaster. Has a Disaster Affected Your Property?
Florida Statutes provide direction for property affected by a catastrophic event. The Department of Revenue developed a guide regarding disaster damage to help homeowners understand how property taxes are handled if a property is damaged or destroyed. Questions covered in the guide include:
- My residence was recently destroyed or damaged. Do I have to pay property taxes?
- How do I report destruction or damage to my residence?
- My residence was destroyed or damaged. How do I apply for property tax relief?
- My homestead residence was destroyed or damaged. Will my property taxes go down?
- My non-homestead residence was destroyed or damaged. Will my property taxes go down?
View the guide which includes links to these questions at https://floridarevenue.com/property/Documents/homeowner_guide_property_damage_update_1.pdf
Housing Assistance
Floridians in Need of Housing Options and Other Housing Related Support
Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) has disaster relief resources and information for Floridians in need of housing options and other housing related support. For more information click here. FHFC has also activated FloridaHousingSearch.org to assist hurricane-impacted Floridians in locating an affordable rental property. This free, statewide search platform is being constantly updated to ensure all listings are accurate. Floridians can also call 1-877-428-8844 for assistance.
Volusia County Approved for FEMA Transitional Shelter Assistance
Volusia County has been approved for FEMA Transitional Shelter Assistance (TSA) in response to Hurricane Milton. This initiative offers short-term, non-congregate sheltering options for displaced survivors. The TSA program provides temporary accommodations, such as hotels and motels in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama, to help survivors transition to more permanent housing solutions.
How to Register for TSA:
- Register for FEMA by calling 1-800-621-3362 or visiting www.disasterassistance.gov.
- Eligible individuals will be informed about TSA eligibility and provided instructions for finding participating hotels.
- Find accommodations by visiting www.femaemergencyhotels.com or call the TSA Support Group at 1-866-863-8673.
Those who applied previously and did not indicate in their initial application that they needed shelter assistance must log back in to their account and update their profile to indicate shelter assistance is now required. Applicants will receive a notification seven days before the end of their TSA eligibility. This notice will be communicated via phone call, email, and/or text message, based on their selected method of communication during the disaster assistance application process.
If you do not have access to a computer or mobile device, please contact the Volusia County TSA Support Group by calling 1-866-863-8673 or email support@volusiacounty.gov
SNAP Food Replacement
Volusia County residents who were receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits before Hurricane Milton and lost food due to the storm may be eligible for food replacement through the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF). To qualify, applicants must be a current SNAP recipient and complete the application form on DCF’s website by Sat., Oct. 19.
Residents eligible for SNAP replacement in Volusia County are not required to provide proof of a power outage exceeding four hours or other documentation of food loss.
Additionally, DCF has authorized SNAP recipients in Volusia County to use their SNAP EBT benefits to purchase hot foods from participating retailers until Fri., Nov. 15. Recipients should verify retailer participation before purchasing. Eligible foods include hot deli items, salad bars, and prepared sandwiches.
For more information about the SNAP benefit replacement and to access the online application, visit www.myflfamilies.com/milton.
**This is a separate initiative from DCF’s Disaster Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (D-SNAP), which is not yet available.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance
FloridaCommerce announced that Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is available to businesses and residents whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a direct result of Hurricane Milton and are not eligible for regular state or federal Reemployment Assistance benefits. Eligible Floridians whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a direct result of Hurricane Milton are encouraged to submit a claim at FloridaJobs.org .
DUA is available to those who are ineligible to receive federal or state Reemployment Assistance benefits and the individual meets one of the following requirements:
- Is unemployed as a direct result of the major disaster;
- Was scheduled to start employment but was unable to as a direct result of the major disaster;
- Is unable to reach their job or self-employment location because the individual has to travel through an affected area and is prevented from doing so as a direct result of the major disaster;
- Has become the primary breadwinner because the head of the household died as a direct result of the major disaster; or
- Is unable to work because of an injury that was a direct result of the major disaster.
DUA is available for weeks of unemployment beginning October 6, 2024, through April 12, 2025, as long as the individual’s unemployment continues to be a result of the disaster in the designated-disaster areas. The deadline to submit a claim for DUA benefits is no later than December 10, 2024.
Federal Tax Relief
The Internal Revenue Service announced today tax relief for individuals and businesses in parts of Florida that were affected by Hurricane Milton that began on Oct. 5, 2024. These taxpayers now have until May 1, 2025, to file various federal individual and business tax returns and make tax payments.
Combined with earlier tax relief provided for taxpayers in counties affected by Hurricane Debby and Hurricane Helene, affected taxpayers in all of Florida now haveuntil May 1, 2025, to file various federal individual and business tax returns and make tax payments, including 2024 individual and business returns normally due during March and April 2025 and 2023 individual and corporate returns with valid extensions and quarterly estimated tax payments.
Learn more at: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-announces-tax-relief-for-victims-of-milton-various-deadlines-postponed-to-may-1-2025-in-all-of-florida
Report Price Gouging
Report price gouging to the Florida Attorney General at: https://legacy.myfloridalegal.com/Contact.nsf/PriceGouging!OpenForm
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