SBP Scales Urgent Disaster Response in Florida to Meet Overwhelming Needs after Back-to-Back Hurricanes

Nonprofit prioritizes support for frontline communities in the central Florida peninsula

(NEW ORLEANS) October 9, 2024—SBP, the national disaster recovery nonprofit, is mobilizing resources and positioning teams to respond to Hurricane Milton in Florida. With teams already on the ground supporting recovery in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, SBP is ready to help in at-risk communities, especially on Florida’s west-central coast.

Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, at 8:30 p.m. EDT on Oct. 9 as an extremely powerful Category 3 storm with 120 mph sustained winds and higher gusts, delivering a dangerous storm surge and severe flooding in areas already reeling from Hurricane Helene. Milton may be one of the strongest storms to ever hit Florida’s western coast, according to early analysis.

“To all the people in the path of Hurricane Milton, we stand with you,” said Thomas Corley, SBP’s Chief Operating Officer. “SBP is ready to respond with immediate and long-term support to help communities rebuild after these back-to-back catastrophes. Together, we are stronger.”

In response to Hurricane Helene, SBP mobilized muck and gut operations to help affected families in Big Bend and the greater Tampa area. The organization also launched disaster assistance programs in the 17 Florida counties where a federal disaster was declared, supporting survivors to submit FEMA applications and appeals. In response to Milton, SBP will support damage assessments, partner with state and local officials to coordinate disaster response plans, and equip survivors with resources and support to navigate the recovery process.

SBP has been working in Florida since 2018, helping communities recover after Hurricanes Michael, Ian, Idalia, and most recently, Helene. 

For households affected by the storm, SBP’s free resources provide guidance for navigating the first steps of the recovery process, including working with insurance companies, avoiding contractor fraud, and navigating the federal assistance process, where applicable. 

Founded in New Orleans in 2006 in response to Hurricane Katrina, SBP has built 6,300 homes for disaster survivors across 16 communities in the U.S. and The Bahamas and deployed 150,000 volunteers. 

SBP is committed not only to equipping disaster survivors to recover in the short term, but also to increasing readiness and reducing risk for the long term. Our holistic programs help communities shrink the time between disaster and recovery by rebuilding homes, building resilience, and improving policies.

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MEDIA CONTACT

Elizabeth Wright: ewright@sbpusa.org
Chief Communications and Marketing Officer, SBP

ABOUT SBP
SBP is a national social impact organization dedicated to helping communities shrink the time between disaster and recovery by rebuilding homes, increasing resilience, and improving policies to better serve all Americans. To learn more, visit www.sbpusa.org