The storm is expected to make landfall on Thursday evening and could intensify to a strong Category 3. More than a dozen counties are under evacuation orders.
ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida Realtors® opened applications for its Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) as Hurricane Helene gains strength in the Gulf of Mexico with the potential to hit Florida’s Panhandle or Big Bend area as a Category 3 storm.
The DRF is available to Realtors®, Realtor boards/associations and staff whose primary residential home or real estate office sustain damages due to the storm. Click here to apply.
Business and individual damage applications will be accepted until March 26, 2025, and should include:
- Color photos showing damage (digital preferred) and insurance summary page showing deductible and coverage information.
- A written assessment from your insurance company and estimate to replace or repair damaged areas; include qualifying repair receipts to date and any additional information which may assist with describing your disaster and subsequent damage.
- Qualifying repair receipts to date and any additional information which may assist with describing your disaster and subsequent damage.
The storm, forecast to make landfall on Thursday, is large and fast-moving, gaining in intensity through the warm Gulf waters and possibly reaching wind speeds of up to 110 mph. Hurricane warnings were posted for the Panhandle and Big Bend areas, while tropical storm warnings were in effect for much of the state.
The National Hurricane Center said storm surge and flooding will be a big concern, particularly for those on the west coast. More than a dozen counties are under voluntary or mandatory evacuation orders.
“Due to the large size of Helene, there is a danger of life-threatening storm surge along the entire west coast of the Florida Peninsula and Florida Big Bend. The highest inundation of greater than 10 feet is expected along the Florida Big Bend coast,” the National Hurricane Center said.
President Joe Biden declared an emergency in Florida, and federal authorities positioned generators, food and water, along with search-and-rescue and power restoration teams. Gov. Ron DeSantis, who already issued an emergency for most counties, warned residents Wednesday they needed to heed evacuation orders. A dozen health care facilities including hospitals and nursing homes had evacuated preemptively, DeSantis said.
“There’s clearly a pathway for this to rapidly intensify prior to making landfall,” DeSantis said at a news conference in Tampa.
Other disaster relief available
The DRF is also continuing to accept applications for other severe weather events:
- Hurricane Debby on August 5, 2024; applications close February 5, 2025.
- Flash flooding in South Florida on June 11, 2024; applications close December 12, 2024.
- Tornado events in North Florida on May 10, 2024; applications close November 11, 2024.
Those interested in helping disaster victims can donate to the DRF securely online. If you prefer to mail in a tax-deductible donation, make your check payable to “Florida Realtors Disaster Fund, attention Dave Garrison,” and send the check to:
Florida Realtors Disaster Relief Fund
PO Box 725025
Orlando, FL 32872-5025
The Associated Press contributed to this report
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