Local small businesses in South Florida might see a glimmer of hope amidst recent flood devastation, as Governor Ron DeSantis indicates potential disaster assistance following a state of emergency declaration. As per a press conference held Friday morning in Hollywood, discussed by NBC Miami, the governor revealed that while residential damage may not meet FEMA’s federal disaster declaration needs, small businesses might still receive some form of aid.
"The area held a lot of it, but it just was so much inundation in such a short period of time," Governor DeSantis stated, signaling an acute crunch that South Florida weathered, contributing to significant business interruption. Miramar-based Pacesetter Academy Daycare is one such business reeling from the floods, as manager Tatiana Charry disclosed in a statement obtained by NBC Miami, noting the extensive water damage to carpets and spaces that led to the facility’s temporary closure.
Moreover, following the heavy rains, the Florida Division of Emergency Management and the state’s Department of Transportation elevated their response, swiftly deploying resources such as pumps and emergency supplies to the inundated regions. This concerted reaction was highlighted as markedly improved compared to the state's previous encounters with extreme weather, as detailed by Kevin Guthrie and Jared Perdue during the Hollywood briefing, reported by the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
While home and business damages seem extensive, the exact scale may not trigger the breadth of federal support typically provided after such calamities. "We don’t think there is going to be enough damage to necessarily qualify for a federal disaster declaration,” DeSantis said, addressing the balance between observed damages and federal assistance criteria. However, the activate Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, giving small businesses access to zero-interest loans, offers a lifeline, elucidated Guthrie, which also found mention in the South Florida Sun Sentinel coverage. The program has earmarked $3 million for counties impacted by the storms.
Impacted businesses are urged to complete a business damage assessment survey on the Floridadisaster.biz website to register for potential aid. With Florida still bailing out from under the floodwaters, business owners like Pacesetter Academy's Charry are giving voice to the local business community, expressing gratitude for the state's recognition of their hardship and government’s anticipation of aid. “We are really thankful that they are thinking of us,” Charry told NBC Miami.
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