CFO Jimmy Patronis Urges Floridians to Prepare Now for Hurricane Milton
~ Provides Storm Preparation Tips and National Flood Insurance Program Resources ~

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis urges Floridians to take the necessary precautions to prepare their homes and property ahead of Hurricane Milton. Currently a major Category 5 storm, Milton is expected to bring devastating wind, rain, and widespread flooding to communities along the Florida Peninsula. The storm could potentially bring enormous coastal flooding, so Floridians should be aware of recovery tips and resources offered by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Currently, 51 Florida counties are under a declared state of emergency , and some communities are currently under evacuation orders. 

CFO Jimmy Patronis said, “Floridians must prepare now and heed all watches and warnings from state and local officials regarding Hurricane Milton. Most of the area in the path of this storm was just inundated with heavy rain, flooding, and storm surge following Hurricane Helene, which will only compound the impacts from Milton making this storm even more dangerous. This system is projected to be a major hurricane before landfall, potentially bringing extremely dangerous sustained wind gusts and dropping heavy amounts of rain, which can lead to more severe flooding. If you have coverage under the NFIP, be prepared to document potential damage so you can make your claim quickly if needed. My PrepareFL.com website serves as a one-stop-shop for disaster preparedness information and tips to help Floridians ensure they are prepared to weather the storm and recover afterward. Stay safe and prepare now, Florida!”

THE PREPAREFL.COM WEBSITE INCLUDES:

• An Emergency Preparedness Toolkit designed to help you prepare a home inventory and organize your financial information before and after a disaster.
• A Natural Disasters – Are You Prepared guide to inform consumers on insurance and financial preparation in the event of a natural disaster.
• A guide to navigating the flood insurance claims process.
• Tips on what to expect after filing a homeowners insurance claim related to a hurricane. 

IMPORTANT STORM RECOVERY TIPS AND RESOURCES FROM FEMA’S NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM:
General information on the NFIP:

• For consumers
• For insurance agents
• For insurance commissioners and others
• For real estate agents

Filing Your Claim:

• How To Start Filing Your Claim
• How To File Your Flood Insurance Claim
• Starting Your Recovery: FEMA’s Flood Insurance Claims Process
• How To Document Damage

Recovering from a flood:

• How To Document Damage And Begin Clean-Up
• NFIP Claims Handbook
• Salvaging Water-Damaged Family Valuables and Heirlooms
• Reducing Future Flood Damage  

Visit PrepareFL.com for storm-related resources and information.

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About CFO Jimmy Patronis  
Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis is a statewide elected official and a member of Florida’s Cabinet who oversees the Department of Financial Services. CFO Patronis works each day to fight insurance fraud, support Florida’s firefighters, and ensure the state’s finances are stable to support economic growth in the state. Follow the activities of the Department on Facebook (FLDFS) and Twitter (@FLDFS).