Hurricane Milton Update No. 42
Hillsborough County, Fla. (Oct. 15, 2024) - Hillsborough County has opened a third comfort station to help residents affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton today.
The comfort station is located in a parking lot at Hillsborough Avenue and Hanley Road in Town 'N Country, 7501 W. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa, FL, 33615. The site opened today, Oct. 15, and will operate daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. until further notice.
The comfort station offers showers, restrooms, and washers and dryers for laundry. Hot food or boxed meals will be available at lunch and dinner times.
In addition to the comfort stations, the County and National Guard have opened points of distribution (PODs). The sites are located strategically throughout the county. No IDs are required at the comfort stations or PODs.
Residents with unmet needs
Residents are encouraged to report unmet needs due to impacts from Hurricane Milton by completing this easy-to-use online form at HCFL.gov/DamageAssessment.
If you need assistance completing the form, call (833) HC-STORM or (833) 427-8676, the County's storm information and helpline. The information will be routed to the appropriate County department, which will respond within 72 hours.
FEMA
Residents impacted by Hurricane Milton can now apply for aid through Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). When applying for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster Individual Assistance, residents who have unmet needs for necessities such as food, shelter, and clothing can receive an initial $750 in Serious Needs Assistance without being required to conduct an inspection.
If you were displaced from your home due to Hurricane Milton storm damage and are staying in a car, with a friend or family member, in a hotel or shelter - anywhere that isn't the home you were in prior to the storm - FEMA disaster Individual Assistance is also available to you now. Once you confirm you are displaced and complete the application, it will generate your FEMA number. You should use this number when applying for additional assistance through HOPE Florida.
Get Connected. Stay Alert.
Residents and visitors are encouraged to register for HCFL Alert, Hillsborough County's official public notification system for emergency and urgent alerts. To receive messages by email, phone, and text, go to HCFL.gov/HCFLAlert. For the latest emergency-related information visit HCFL.gov/StaySafe. Residents without digital access are encouraged to call (833) HC STORM or (833) 427-8676, the County's storm information and helpline.