ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — As hurricane season approaches, Orange County leaders say preparing for storms is about more than stocking up on water and supplies.
The county recently received a $150,000 grant through the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund to help residents become more financially prepared before disasters happen.
County leaders say the funding will support financial education, budgeting assistance and connections to local resources before, during and after emergencies. Officials say that many families focus on physical storm preparation, but recovering financially after a disaster can also be difficult.
Division Chief Lauraleigh Avery with Orange County Emergency Management said the initiative is designed to help residents better handle those challenges.
“What we’re hoping with the financial empowerment is that prior to a disaster, whether it be a hurricane, tornado or any other flooding, maybe, that they have some training to help them learn how to budget and learn how to be financially stable and ready for disaster in case it strikes,” Avery said.
County officials say the program will also connect residents with nonprofit organizations and community partners that may be able to help during emergencies.
Avery said helping residents become more financially prepared can also help communities recover faster after disasters.
“So often in preparedness for hurricane season, or any disaster for that matter, financial is not something people are really thinking about. They’re thinking about going out and buying supplies or getting their house ready. But really, we need the residents to be financially stable, have some funding put away, so that if a disaster strikes, they have that extra, you know, financial ability,” Avery said.
County leaders encourage residents to begin preparing now ahead of hurricane season by gradually purchasing supplies and learning what resources are available in their community before a storm hits.