Published by Panhandle Real Estate Investments, a locally owned real estate solutions company serving Escambia County, Santa Rosa County, Okaloosa County, and Bay County. We buy houses and land across the Florida Panhandle.
Last Updated: October 14, 2026
This is a living page. We verified every resource below against official county, state and federal sources on October 14, 2026, and we update it as FEMA decisions, debris schedules and distribution sites change.
Hurricane Isaias came ashore near Destin around 8:30 p.m. on Friday, October 9, with 105 mph winds, and a gust of 116 mph was recorded near Santa Rosa Sound, according to the National Hurricane Center. Santa Rosa County estimates about 1.7 million cubic yards of vegetative debris, and Escambia County expects its cleanup to take three to four months.
This week we read through thousands of posts in local community groups from Pensacola, Milton, Pace, Gulf Breeze and Navarre, and the same questions kept coming up: where is FEMA, who will tarp my roof for free, what goes by the road, and is this roofer legit?
This page answers them with free, verified resources, organized by what most households need first. None of it requires calling us.
Key Takeaways
- FEMA aid for households is not open yet. The federal emergency declaration covers government response costs, so report your damage to your county now.
- For free tarping, tree cutting and muck-outs, call Crisis Cleanup at 1-800-451-1954.
- County crews are collecting storm debris at the curb. Make two separate piles, leave them unbagged, and put them on the public right-of-way.
- You have one year from the October 9 landfall to report an insurance claim, and your insurer has 7 days to acknowledge it and 60 days to pay or deny it.
- SNAP households can request replacement benefits for food lost in the storm by Monday, October 19.
On this page
- Hurricane Isaias phone numbers
- FEMA status and how to report damage
- Free tarping, tree removal and cleanup help
- Free food, water, ice and supplies
- Debris pickup rules
- Power, water and safety at home
- Where to stay during repairs
- Filing an insurance claim
- Hiring a contractor without getting scammed
- Money you may be able to get back
- Your options for a storm-damaged home
- Frequently asked questions
Hurricane Isaias Phone Numbers for Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties
Save these numbers. For any life-threatening emergency, call 911.
| What you need | Who to contact |
|---|---|
| Free tarping, tree removal, debris cleanup and muck-outs | Crisis Cleanup: 1-800-451-1954 |
| Food, shelter and other non-emergency needs | Dial 211 or visit 211nwfl.org |
| Escambia County questions | Citizen Info Line: 850-471-6600 |
| Santa Rosa County questions | Citizen Information Line: 850-983-4636 |
| Insurance claim questions | Florida Department of Financial Services: 1-877-693-5236 |
| Price gouging | Florida Attorney General: 1-866-966-7226 |
| Unlicensed contractors | DBPR Unlicensed Activity Hotline: 1-866-532-1440 |
| Insurance fraud | Insurance Fraud Hotline: 1-800-378-0445 |
| FEMA impostors or fraud | FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline: 1-866-720-5721 |
| Stress, anxiety or trouble coping | Disaster Distress Helpline: call or text 1-800-985-5990 |
Is FEMA Help Available for Hurricane Isaias? What to Do Right Now
Not for households yet. The federal emergency declaration approved on October 9 covers Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and 24 other Florida counties, but it supports the government’s emergency response, not repairs to your home.
That is why your damage report matters. Governor DeSantis said on October 13 that the state expects to qualify for a major disaster declaration that could open FEMA individual assistance, and that it was waiting on damage data from the counties before submitting the request.
How to report damage in Escambia County
Fill out the Escambia County Citizen Damage Report and attach photos, because county officials have asked for pictures so crews do not have to visit every address. Questions go to the Citizen Info Line at 850-471-6600.
How to report damage in Santa Rosa County
Search for your parcel by name or street address on the Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser site, then click “Report Damage” under Owner Information, as the county instructs. Use abbreviations such as Dr, St and Blvd when you search by address.
Document everything before you clean up
Photograph every damaged room, roof section, fence and vehicle before anything is moved, and keep receipts for tarps, hotel stays and meals. Those records support a county report, an insurance claim and a FEMA application if one opens.
Get state help in person while you wait
The state has opened a Multi-Agency Resource Center in the Pensacola State College Milton campus gym, 5988 U.S. 90. FEMA is not on site, but state agencies including DCF, Elder Affairs and DBPR are. Bring ID, proof of residence and your insurance information. In Okaloosa County, centers are open at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center and the Crestview Community Center.
If FEMA aid opens, applications will go through DisasterAssistance.gov or FEMA’s helpline at 1-800-621-3362. FEMA never asks for money to provide assistance, so do not pay anyone who offers to sign you up.
Free Roof Tarping, Tree Removal and Cleanup Help
Start with Crisis Cleanup at 1-800-451-1954. BRACE, the local disaster coalition, uses the hotline to connect Escambia and Santa Rosa County residents with volunteer groups that cut and remove fallen trees, clear debris, install temporary roof tarps, and muck out and gut flooded homes. The work is done by volunteers and is free, but help depends on volunteer availability, so call early and describe the damage clearly.
Volunteer teams working here now include Team Rubicon, which began relief work in Milton and across Santa Rosa County on October 13, God’s Pit Crew, with crews in the Milton area through October 21, and Eight Days of Hope, which is removing trees, clearing debris and tarping roofs in Pensacola from October 15 through October 31.
If an elderly or disabled neighbor needs help, sit with them and make the call together. If a tree is on your house, stay out of the damaged rooms, photograph the tree where it landed, and check with your insurance company before you sign any repair contract.
Where to Get Free Food, Water, Ice and Supplies
State Points of Distribution, or PODs, hand out shelf-stable meals, water, ice and tarps at no cost. Santa Rosa County’s PODs are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily until further notice. Sites change as needs shift, so confirm before you drive.
| County | Location | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Escambia | Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. De Soto St., Pensacola | State POD; call 850-471-6600 for current hours |
| Santa Rosa | Hickory Hammock Baptist Church, Hickory Hammock Road, East Milton | Ice available |
| Santa Rosa | Munson Air Strip, Krul Lake Road, Munson | Ice available |
| Santa Rosa | Bray-Hendricks Park (behind the Jay Community Center), 5259 Booker Lane, Jay | Ice, plus shower trailers, restrooms and laundry |
| Santa Rosa | Navarre High School west parking lot, 8600 High School Blvd., Navarre | Meals, water and tarps |
Santa Rosa has also run a site in Milton whose address has changed between official lists, so check the county’s community resources page or the state’s Hurricane Isaias page for the current location.
Free hot meals
The Salvation Army, Mercy Chefs, Operation BBQ Relief and the American Red Cross are serving free meals at rotating sites. On October 14, the state’s list showed Operation BBQ Relief at the Walmart at 501 N. Navy Blvd. in Pensacola and at Walmart stores on U.S. 90 in Milton and Pace, and Mercy Chefs at the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office on East Milton Road. Meal sites change daily, so check the list before you go.
Showers, laundry, Wi-Fi and charging
Walmart and its partners are offering free hot meals, Wi-Fi and charging, and mobile showers and laundry at Walmart locations in Milton and Pensacola. Bray-Hendricks Park in Jay also has shower trailers, restrooms and laundry. For fuel, Escambia County points residents to GasBuddy to find open stations.
SNAP food replacement
If you already receive SNAP and lost food in the storm, you can request replacement benefits at MyFLFamilies.com/Isaias. The form must be completed by Monday, October 19, 2026, and it covers current SNAP recipients in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and other affected counties.
Shelter and prescriptions
The Clyde L. Gracey (Milton) Community Center at 5629 Byrom St. is open as a pet-friendly shelter. Bring ID and proof of damage, and call 850-983-4636 if you need transportation. If you need an early prescription refill, Florida allows early refills when your county is under a declared state of emergency, so ask your pharmacist.
Hurricane Debris Pickup Rules in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties
County crews are collecting storm debris, and you do not need to hire anyone for curbside pickup. Escambia County crews started ahead of schedule and plan multiple rounds over about three to four months. Santa Rosa County’s first pass was set to begin October 14 on publicly maintained roads, and the county has said removal will take at least a month.
- Make two piles. Keep vegetative debris (trees, stumps, limbs and leaves) separate from construction debris (lumber, drywall, roofing, fencing, furniture and fixtures), per Escambia County’s rules.
- Do not bag it. Only loose debris is collected.
- Use the right-of-way. Place piles between the street and the sidewalk, ditch or utility pole. Only storm debris qualifies, and Escambia’s program covers residential property only.
- Give utilities room. Keep piles 4 feet from mailboxes, water meters and fire hydrants, and never stack them under low power lines.
- Keep trash separate. Household garbage, including spoiled food, goes in your regular cart. Debris from contractor-performed work is not eligible for county pickup, so make sure any hired crew’s price includes hauling.
- Missed on the first pass? Leave your piles separated and accessible for the next one.
If you can get the debris to the curb yourself, there is no reason to pay a hauler, and Escambia officials are cautioning residents against paying unlicensed workers for yard cleanup.
Power, Water and Safety at Home
Is the tap water safe to drink?
Check your address before you drink. On October 13, ECUA lifted its boil-water notice for most of mainland Escambia County, including Perdido Key, but it stayed in effect for Pensacola Beach and a short list of mainland addresses, with Pensacola Beach expected to clear on October 14 if testing confirmed the water was safe. Pace Water System lifted its notice for all customers, while Navarre Beach remained under one.
If your address is still under a notice, bring tap water to a rolling boil for at least one minute before drinking, cooking or making ice.
Power is back on your street but not at your house
Your home’s own equipment may be damaged. FPL says homeowners own the weatherhead, service stack, attachment hardware, riser and meter box, so a licensed electrician must repair those parts and any required inspection must pass before you call 1-800-4-OUTAGE to be reconnected. Escambia River Electric Cooperative members can check outages on EREC’s website.
Generators, food and mold
Run generators outdoors, far from windows, doors and vents, never in a garage, and let them cool at least 20 minutes before refueling. A closed refrigerator keeps food safe for about 4 hours without power, and a full freezer for about 48 hours. When in doubt, throw it out.
For water damage, the EPA advises drying wet areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold, and says most homeowners can clean a moldy patch smaller than about 10 square feet themselves. For anything larger, consider a qualified professional.
Where to Stay While Your Home Is Repaired
If your home is not livable, start with the Milton shelter above or dial 211. In mainland Escambia County, including Perdido Key, homeowners can place an RV or travel trailer on the property during repairs with approval from the county’s Development Services Department.
Check whether your homeowners policy includes additional living expense coverage, also called loss of use, and keep every hotel, rental and meal receipt for your claim.
How to File a Hurricane Isaias Insurance Claim
Report the claim to your insurer as soon as you can, even before repairs are priced. Under section 627.70132 of the Florida Statutes, you have one year from the date of loss to report a new claim and 18 months for a supplemental claim. For a hurricane, the date of loss is the landfall date: October 9, 2026.
Your insurer is on a clock too. Section 627.70131 requires it to acknowledge your claim within 7 days, give you the name and license number of the adjuster who inspects, and pay or deny the claim within 60 days of notice, although state regulators can allow up to 30 more days after a declared emergency.
For free, in-person help, the state is running Insurance Assistance Hubs at the University of West Florida (11000 University Parkway, Parking Lot B) and the Morgan Sports Complex in Destin, where carriers are on site. You can also call the Department of Financial Services helpline at 1-877-693-5236. It also helps to know how your hurricane deductible works before the adjuster visits.
Do you need a public adjuster?
You can file directly with your insurer at no cost. If you hire a public adjuster, Florida caps the fee at 10 percent of claim payments for claims from a declared emergency during the year after the declaration. You can cancel within 30 days of the date of loss or 10 days of signing, whichever is longer, by written notice sent by certified mail or another mailing that gives you proof, and public adjusters may only solicit you Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
If you disagree with the insurer’s decision
Once your claim has been paid or denied, you can request free mediation through the state. Under section 627.7015, the insurer pays the cost of the mediation conference, the result is not binding, and if you settle you have 3 business days to change your mind unless you have already cashed the check.
Be wary of anyone who asks you to sign over your claim, because Florida invalidated post-loss assignments of benefits on policies issued on or after January 1, 2023. This section is general information, not legal or insurance advice. For your own claim, talk with your insurer, a licensed public adjuster or a Florida attorney.
How to Hire a Roofer or Contractor Without Getting Scammed
Before you hire anyone for roof, tree or water damage, run the checks the Florida Division of Emergency Management recommends: call your insurer first to confirm coverage, verify the license at MyFloridaLicense.com or 850-487-1395, get written estimates from several licensed contractors, and never pay cash in full before the work is done.
- A business tax receipt is not a contractor license. The state warns that an “occupational license” only means the person paid a local tax.
- Unlicensed work is a felony right now. Unlicensed contracting becomes a felony during a state of emergency. Report it to DBPR at 1-866-532-1440.
- No gifts for roof claims. Under section 489.147, a contractor cannot offer you cash, gift cards, a deductible waiver or anything else of value in exchange for inspecting your roof or filing a roof claim, and cannot interpret your policy unless licensed as a public adjuster.
- Permits come first. Escambia County requires an issued permit before permitted storm repairs begin. Storm permits get priority, and a fee waiver is not a permit waiver. Inside Pensacola city limits, the city is taking permit applications online and has said storm-related emergency repairs can begin. Santa Rosa County warns against contractors who ask you to pull the permit yourself or who say none is needed.
- Report gouging and fake FEMA workers. Report price gouging to the Attorney General at 1-866-966-7226. Real FEMA staff carry official ID and never charge for help.
If floodwater got into your home and it sits in a flood zone, read our guide to substantial damage letters in Florida before major repairs, because that determination can change what you are required to do when you rebuild. The same caution applies to anyone offering to buy your house. Our checklist for vetting any “we buy houses” company in Pensacola, including us, lists the questions to ask.
Money You May Be Able to Get Back
Property tax refund. If your home was unlivable for at least 30 days, section 197.319 of the Florida Statutes lets you apply to your county property appraiser for a partial refund of this year’s property taxes. The deadline is March 1, 2027, and the sworn application needs supporting documents such as utility bills, insurance records, contractor statements or permit applications.
Mortgage relief. If the storm cut your income or made your home unlivable, call your mortgage servicer before you miss a payment and ask what disaster relief it offers. Forbearance can pause or reduce payments for a while, but it is not forgiveness, so ask exactly how the missed amount will be repaid.
Repair, List or Sell As-Is: Your Options for a Storm-Damaged Home
Most homeowners will file a claim and repair, and when the coverage is solid and you plan to stay, that is usually the right call. Others hit a wall: a hurricane deductible bigger than their savings, an inherited or rental house they never planned to manage, or repairs that would take months they do not have.
Here is how the main paths compare. Our guide to deciding whether to repair, file a claim or sell after a hurricane covers each one in more depth.
| Factor | Repair and stay | Repair, then list with an agent | Sell as-is to a cash buyer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Money needed up front | Your deductible plus any coverage gap | Deductible, coverage gap and carrying costs until it sells | None for repairs |
| Who manages contractors | You | You, then your listing agent | The buyer, after closing |
| Timeline | Depends on contractor and claim schedules | Repairs first, then the listing and a buyer’s financing | Often within a few weeks, depending on title and your situation |
| Price | You keep the home | Usually the highest gross price | Usually below a repaired home’s market price |
| Commissions | None | Agent commission and seller closing costs | None when you sell to us |
| Best for | Solid coverage and plans to stay | Owners with the time and cash to finish repairs | Heavy damage, funding gaps, rentals, inherited homes, or no time to manage repairs |
A cash sale usually nets less than a repaired home sold on the open market, and we will tell you that plainly. Whatever you choose, do not sign anything that transfers your insurance claim rights to a contractor or buyer until you have talked with your insurer and an attorney.
How Selling As-Is to Panhandle Real Estate Investments Works
If selling as-is fits your situation, here is how we buy houses. There is no obligation at any step.
- Tell us about the house. Share the address, the storm damage and where your insurance claim stands. It takes a few minutes.
- We review the damage and the numbers. We walk the property or review photos, then make a fair cash offer based on its condition and the local market, with our repair estimate explained.
- Close on your timeline. If the offer works for you, we handle the paperwork and close when you are ready. You make no repairs and pay no agent commission.
Selling to us is not the right move for everyone. If your coverage is strong and you want to stay, repairing usually makes more sense, and we will say so. If your house is in Santa Rosa County, you can also read about selling a house as-is in Milton.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hurricane Isaias Recovery
Is FEMA assistance available for Hurricane Isaias?
Not for households yet. As of October 14, 2026, only an emergency declaration covering government response costs is in place for Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties. Governor DeSantis has said the state expects to qualify for a major disaster declaration that could open individual assistance. Report your damage to your county now, and apply at DisasterAssistance.gov if aid opens.
Who will tarp my roof or remove a fallen tree for free?
Call Crisis Cleanup at 1-800-451-1954. The hotline, coordinated locally by BRACE, connects Escambia and Santa Rosa County residents with volunteer groups that tarp roofs, cut and remove fallen trees, clear debris and muck out flooded homes at no cost. Help depends on volunteer availability, so call early and describe the damage clearly.
Will the county pick up my hurricane debris?
Yes. Escambia and Santa Rosa counties are collecting storm debris placed on the public right-of-way. Make two piles, one for trees and limbs and one for construction debris, leave it loose instead of bagged, and keep it 4 feet from mailboxes, meters and hydrants and out from under power lines. Expect multiple passes over several weeks or months.
How long do I have to file a hurricane insurance claim in Florida?
You have one year from the date of loss to report a new claim and 18 months for a supplemental claim under section 627.70132 of the Florida Statutes. For hurricanes, the date of loss is the landfall date, so Hurricane Isaias claims run from October 9, 2026. Reporting early still helps, because evidence fades and repairs can blur what the storm did.
Can I sell my house with hurricane damage in Florida?
Yes. You can repair and list it, list it as-is with an agent, or sell it as-is to a cash buyer, and a sale can happen while an insurance claim is still open. A cash sale usually nets less than a repaired home, so compare your options and talk with your insurer before signing anything.
Cleanup from Isaias will take months in Pensacola, Milton, Pace and Navarre, but the first steps are the same for every household: stay safe, document the damage, report it to your county and your insurer, and use the free help that is already here. We will keep this page updated as FEMA decisions, debris schedules and distribution sites change.
When the repairs are more than you want to take on
If you would rather not manage contractors, deductibles and months of repairs, we are a local option worth a phone call. We will tell you what your Pensacola, Milton or Navarre house is worth as-is, storm damage included, with no obligation and no pressure.
Request a cash offer from Panhandle Real Estate Investments
Prefer to talk? Call us at (850) 778-2212.
About Panhandle Real Estate Investments
I’m Peyton Saluto, founder of Panhandle Real Estate Investments. For over seven years, I’ve helped homeowners across the Florida Panhandle find fair and stress-free ways to sell their homes—no repairs, no commissions, and no pressure. My goal is always to put people first and make a real difference in our communities by restoring distressed properties and rebuilding neighborhoods. If you’re thinking about selling, reach out for a no-obligation cash offer. I’d love the opportunity to help you find the best path forward.