Hurricane Ian ​Disaster Resources Available For Hillsborough Residents

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — Power outages, downed trees and fences, roof damage and road flooding constitute the majority of damages in Hillsborough County from Hurricane Ian, reported Hillsborough County emergency management officials.

Although the hurricane made landfall in Lee County, Hillsborough County experienced up to 87-mph winds in some areas.

As of Monday morning, TECO reported that 8,879 customers are still without power.

Archie Collins, president and CEO of Tampa Electric Co., which provides power to 815,000 customers across Hillsborough, Polk and Pasco counties, said there were about 279,000 customers without power on Friday. TECO brought in more than 3,000 linemen from power companies in Oklahoma, Indiana and Texas to help TECO's complement of 162 linemen restore power to most customers over the weekend.

See related story: Hurricane Ian: 88 Dead, Debate Over Evacuations, 589K With No Power

Hillsborough County residents impacted by Hurricane Ian are eligible for individual disaster assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Residents can access federal disaster assistance through the FEMA mobile app available in the Apple App Store or on Google Play.

The app allows residents to upload and share photos of damage, access local resources and toggle between English and Spanish. Assistance can also be requested by filling out an online questionnaire and aid application here or by calling 1-800-621-3362.

Those with access to the internet are encouraged to apply online.

Small Business Administration disaster loans are now available to businesses and residents in Florida impacted by the Hurricane Ian federal disaster declaration. Applicants may apply here under declaration # 17644.

For help with an SBA disaster assistance application, contact the Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955. If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability, dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services or email DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov.

As Hurricane Ian recovery continues, officials urge residents to review these tips regarding unlicensed contractors. Verify a contractor's license by clicking here.