HURRICANE IAN RECOVERY
We are thinking of those in southwest Florida who are facing a long road to recovery from Hurricane Ian. Many are now dealing with widespread destruction of crops, trees, buildings, fencing, and other property and infrastructure loss due to substantial wind and water damage.
For producers located in counties where the USDA Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) local infrastructure has been impacted, the agency has established state-specific toll-free information lines where producers in need can receive immediate information regarding available FSA assistance. If your local FSA office is closed, you can contact the FSA Call Center at 1-877-508-8364. The line is staffed Monday through Friday from 8 am to 8 pm ET.
Also, A USDA NRCS email has been set up specifically for questions about Hurricane Ian assistance and recovery. Please feel free to reach out to is email below if you have any questions: SM.NRCS.FL.DISASTERINFO@USDA.GOV
Use these resources to find the right assistance/recovery program for your situation:
KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR TROPICAL ACTIVITY
Watch the forecasts and make sure you, your family, and your property are ready for the next storm that may be headed our way.
See NOAA National Hurricane Center for the latest activity.
PREPARE YOUR PROPERTY – See our publication on Preparing Your Forest Property for Hurricane Season. Our recorded webinar series on Hurricane Preparation and Recovery, as well as links to all the materials, are all available. See On Demand, Prerecorded Webinars on the calendar to the right. All materials and recordings are also available at our Florida Land Steward events and webinars page – see 2021 Hurricane Preparation & Recovery Webinars.
Don’t wait until after a disaster to get your farm records filled out with USDA Farm Service Agency. Get your farm records completed with USDA ahead of time. You’ll be ahead in the queue for assistance and will receive E-notifications about recovery programs from FSA after the storm. If you already have farm records in, review them and make sure they are complete and up-to date. Find your USDA Service Center here to get started.
FLORIDA FORESTS WEEK COMING UP OCTOBER 23-29, 2022
This annual statewide awareness campaign offers the perfect opportunity for everyone to share the forestry story. Forestry generates a $25 billion boost for the state’s economy and helps provide jobs for more than 24 million people. Additionally, it produces a host of environmental benefits: purifying the air, filtering the water, providing habitat for animals and plants, and creating beautiful green spaces for people to enjoy. See the events calendar for events planned during Florida Forests Week.
CHECK OUT THE FAMILY FOREST VIRTUAL COMMUNITY
Family forest owners are invited to join the American Forest Foundation’s (AFF) brand new virtual community, The Family Forest, a home for family forest owners and the people who support them. The Family Forest is a dedicated online space where people who care for family forest land can connect with others who share the same goals and aspirations. Learn more about AFF’s Family Forest Virtual Community.
GET FLORIDA LAND STEWARD EMAIL UPDATES
Don’t miss out on news and events! Sign up for the regular email updates! Send an email to Chris at cdemers@ufl.edu to be added to the email listserv. Florida Land Steward email updates are sent once a week or every other week and include the latest calendar of workshops, tours and other events; a link to the current issue of the quarterly Florida Land Steward newsletter; updates on cost-share and other assistance programs, opportunities, and resources; and other stewardship related news and information.
UPCOMING EVENTS AND WEBINARS
See our Events Calendar and News page for upcoming events, webinars, and event materials.
ACCESS THE QUARTERLY FLORIDA LAND STEWARD NEWSLETTER ONLINE
Access the current and back issues of the quarterly Florida Land Steward newsletter here.
HAVE AN EVENT OR RELATED NEWS TO SHARE?
Drop a line with the details and link(s) to Chris Demers at cdemers@ufl.edu.
CONSIDER A GIFT IN SUPPORT OF THE UF/IFAS FLORIDA LAND STEWARD PROGRAM
The mission of the UF/IFAS Florida Land Steward Program is to help and encourage private landowners to actively manage their land resources for long-term environmental, economic, and social benefits. This program is largely supported by partners and donors. If this program has made a difference in your land stewardship efforts please consider a gift.
