Hurricane Updates

All CareerSource Polk offices will reopen to the public October 3rd at 7:30 a.m.
**For Businesses: The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (FLDEO) and the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) have activated the Business Damage Assessment Survey in response to Hurricane Ian.**

Survey responses will allow the state to expedite Hurricane Ian recovery efforts by gathering data and assessing the needs of affected businesses.

The survey also includes information regarding helpful business resources.

Click here to begin the survey

 

Please also take a moment to view the helpful resources below.

Helpful Resources

County Support Information

Emergency Management (polk-county.net)

County updates are also available at:

Polk County Facebook https://www.facebook.com/polkcountyem/
Polk County YouTube Page https://www.youtube.com/PolkCountyFL

FEMA Individual Assistance

Polk County is eligible for FEMA Individual Assistance. Impacted residents can apply at DisasterAssistance.gov.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance

Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available to those who are ineligible to receive federal or state Reemployment Assistance benefits and the individual meets one of the following requirements:

  • Is unemployed as a direct result of the major disaster;
  • Was scheduled to start employment but was unable to as a direct result of the major disaster;
  • Is unable to reach their job or self-employment location because the individual has to travel through an affected area and is prevented from doing so as a direct result of the major disaster;
  • Has become the primary breadwinner because the head of the household died as a direct result of the major disaster; or
  • Is unable to work because of an injury that was a direct result of the major disaster.

To file a claim, visit FloridaJobs.org/DUA, visit a  local CareerSource Career Center, or call 1-800-385-3920. Customer service representatives are available Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time to assist claimants. For DUA claims information, call 1-833-FL-APPLY (1-833-352-7759) to speak with a representative.

Individuals must file for state Reemployment Assistance benefits before filing for DUA. During the application, claimants should indicate they have been impacted by the disaster. Claimants who are determined ineligible or who have exhausted Reemployment Assistance benefits will be automatically prompted to file a DUA application if they indicated on their Reemployment Assistance application that their employment was impacted by the disaster.

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