Gov. DeSantis, FDEM set up donation portal for tornado victims after federal aid is denied

Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Department of Emergency Management have created a website so you can donate to help the victims of January’s tornadoes. It comes after the federal government denied the state’s request for aid for those impacted.

In a press release about the new donation portal, DeSantis said, “We cannot continue waiting on the federal government to provide relief to these Floridians. After meeting with survivors last week, it’s clear they still need our help. We’ve helped community leaders launch this portal to expedite assistance for impacted residents and we’re going to ensure they get help.”

“These donations are going to directly provide assistance to our disaster survivors who need it most,” said FDEM Director Kevin Guthrie in the press release. “The Division is working around the clock to connect disaster survivors with this vital resource, which will help them recover faster and begin to rebuild after experiencing extensive devastation.”

If you would like to donate to help those impacted by the tornadoes, you can do so by clicking here or visiting FloridaDisaster.org/Assistance. You can also use the site to request assistance from the state.

If you are a survivor whose home was determined to be destroyed or sustained significant damage, you can call 833-930-3707 to be connected with the donation portal. The donation portal call center is available to survivors seven days a week from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Donations made through the website will be prioritized for survivors whose homes were destroyed or are no longer safe to live in based on criteria from FEMA.