For Immediate Release: Tuesday, September 27, 2022
Contact: Office of Communications, Communications@MyFloridaCFO.com, 850.413.2842

CFO Jimmy Patronis Urges Floridians to Make Final Preparations for Hurricane Ian, Provides Storm Recovery Resources

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, following a briefing from the Statewide Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis is urging Floridians in the path of Hurricane Ian to take this storm seriously and make final preparations for landfall immediately. The CFO’s PrepareFL.com website is a one-stop-shop for disaster-related resources to aid Floridians before, during, and after the storm.

CFO Jimmy Patronis said, “Hurricane Ian is on track to make landfall on Florida’s Western Gulf Coast and will bring heavy rain, wind, and storm surge to many of our coastal communities. Floridians must stay vigilant and make final preparations for this storm immediately. Hurricane Ian is expected to cause up to 15 inches of rainfall in parts of south Florida, isolated totals up to 24 inches of rainfall in central west Florida, and severe flooding. This makes for dangerous road conditions and significant damage to your home and business. Heed all watches and warnings from local officials and stay alert for shelter availability and evacuation information. If you are asked to evacuate, please do so. My office will continue to coordinate with the Florida Division of Emergency Management as the storm progresses.”

Final Storm Preparation Tips and Reminders for Floridians:

• Never run a generator inside or too close to your home or garage.
• Use sandbags and plastic sheeting to ward off rising water.
• Take photos of items in your home to help make the recovery process easier.
• Gather all insurance, financial and other important documents and secure them in plastic bags.
• Secure outdoor objects, such as grills and lawn furniture, so that it cannot get displaced by high winds.

As Hurricane Ian approaches Florida, no new insurance policies will be written. Specific coverage amounts, total coverage limits, and deductible amounts are also locked in, per Florida law. Floridians can call the Department of Financial Services’ toll-free helpline at 1-877-MY-FL-CFO (693-5236) to talk to a knowledgeable insurance specialist Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., visit our disaster resources and information website, or contact us via email at Consumer.Services@myfloridacfo.com.

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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 X (@FLDFS).