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Thanks- Management

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We’re still assessing the damage in Hurricane Milton’s wake. If you have a need, please connect with your program contact or email Info@chsfl.org to see if we can assist.

Offices in the following counties remain closed at this time:

  • Hillsborough County
  • Lee County

Remember: if an office in your area is closed, our team members are continuing to do GOOD from home (if able). Please don’t hesitate to connect with your program contact or Info@chsfl.org if you have a need or question.

In the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton

Our thoughts are with those in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. If you have an immediate need, please contact your CHS contact or email Info@chsfl.org.

If you’re in a position to help a family significantly affected by Helene and Milton’s destruction, please give today. The urgency is real, and your gift will make an immediate difference for a family in need.

Specific Needs

Purchase easily via one of our Amazon essential needs lists:

Items will be shipped directly to our offices for immediate distribution.

If you’re within driving distance to our Cocoa or Tallahassee offices and prefer to purchase and drop off items, high-need items include:

  • Bottled Water
  • Nonperishable Food
  • Cleaning Supplies (Bleach, Mops, Lysol Wipes, Etc.)
  • Batteries
  • Battery-Operated Fans
  • Paper Products
  • Hygiene Products
  • Indoor and Outdoor Trash Bags

If you prefer to drop off items, you can deliver donations between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, at one of the following locations:

Space Coast Area
Brevard Early Head Start
1403 Dixon Blvd.
Cocoa, FL 32922

Tallahassee Area
325 John Knox Rd., Building A
Tallahassee, FL 32303

Thank you for your kindness and generosity during this very difficult time! We’re in this together!


TRAUMA-INFORMED RESOURCES ON HOW TO TALK WITH CHILDREN ABOUT A HURRICANE:

Reassuring Your Child After the Storm (English) – Downloadable PDF

Reassuring Your Child After the Storm (Spanish) – Downloadable PDF

Hurricane-related Trauma Resources (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network)

Zero to Three: Coping After a Natural Disaster

Evacuation Information

Visit FloridaEvacuates.com for the latest evacuation information

State Emergency Response Team

This website includes statewide emergency information and links to all local emergency management info.

Make sure you're prepared this hurricane season

Make a plan so you’re prepared in the event of a hurricane. Here are some key areas to think about when making your hurricane preparedness plan:

  • What you and your family will do.
  • What to have on hand and what supplies you’ll need to get before the threat of a storm arises.
  • What to take with you.
  • Where to go, if necessary.
  • A pet plan.

Get more details in the Florida Emergency Preparedness Guide available here.

Resources in Your Community

Online resources

Resources for assisting those with disabilities

  • Florida Centers for Independent Living (CIL) are committed to assisting those with disabilities plan for emergencies: 1-866-575-6004 or 1-877-822-1993.
  • National Organization on Disability
  • Inclusive Preparedness
  • Clearinghouse on Disability Information, Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
    Communications and Customer Service Team: 1-202-245-7307 or 1-202-205-5637, TTD

Florida Poison Information Center

The Florida Poison Information Center Network(FPICN) provides emergency services 24 hours a day to Floridians: 1-800-222-1222,accessible by voice and TTY.

Disaster contact information

  • American Red Cross—food, shelter, financial assistance: 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). National headquarters staff: 1-202-303-5214. Public inquiries: 1-202-303-4498.
  • America’s Second Harvest— food: 1-800-771-2303
  • FEMA Fraud and Abuse Hotline, Department of Homeland Security: 1-800-323-8603
  • FEMA Registration—first step for disaster assistance: 1-800-621-3362 or -800-621-FEMA
  • FEMA—TTY for hearing impaired: 1-800-462-7585
  • Florida Abuse Hotline: 1-800-962-2873 or 1-800-96ABUSE
  • Florida Child Care—resource and referral: 1-888-352-4453
  • Florida Department of Financial Services—claims problems: 1-800-227-8676 or 1-800-22-STORM
  • Florida Emergency Information Line: 1-800-342-3557
  • Florida Volunteer and Donations Hotline: 1-800-354-3571
  • Hunger Hotline, Florida Association for Community Actions: 1-800-329-3663
  • Price Gouging Hotline, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: 1-800-435-7352
  • Price Gouging Hotline, Florida State Attorney General: 1-800-646-0444
  • Salvation Army: 1-800-725- 2769.
    • To volunteer and donate: 1-866-435-7669
  • U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs—information and referral: 1-800-827-1000

Emotional resources

Reassuring your children following a hurricane

  • Children may feel stress, anxiety and fear after experiencing trauma such as a hurricane. They may have been scared by loud noises, fierce winds and damaged houses and trees in the neighborhood. They sense the stress, loss and anxiety of others around them.
  • To help your family through this trying time, Florida State University’s Center for Prevention & Early Intervention Policy collected a few resources that may be beneficial to your families or the families of those you serve.

Hurricane Emergency Response Plan

Before the Storm:

During a hurricane watch (24-48 hours to landfall), all CHS facilities will be secured and any final preparation will be completed. Emergency supplies, food and water are to be distributed to residential programs as needed at this time.

Management team members will monitor broadcast media, internet or the National Weather Service’s weather radio for storm’s predictions and activities and keep abreast of any developments.

Regional Executive Directors will remain in communication with the CHS Home Office and the Regional Executive Directors of regions with which resources may be shared (supplies, team members, vehicles, equipment such as portable generators and temporary housing) to keep them apprised of the status of the storm and any assistance that might be required. S/he will designate an alternate to act on her/his behalf in the event she/he cannot be contacted during or immediately following the storm. The Regional Executive Director will also apprise the local Board of Directors, CBC or other funders and regulatory agents as appropriate of imminent emergency response plans. The Regional Executive Director will direct the distribution of emergency contact information to team members and foster parents.

Team members will contact all foster parents to review their emergency preparation plans. If foster parents plan to evacuate, team members shall obtain the address and contact information where they will be staying. Team members will remind foster parents to contact CHS as soon as possible after the storm passes with a status update.

During the Storm:

During a hurricane warning (12-24 hours to landfall), residential team members will prepare clients to stay in facilities or evacuate a facility as appropriate. Team members will assist in preparation activities as directed or needed.

Childcare team members on duty during a storm will remain on duty until relief team members arrive and shall not leave the clients or facility without express supervisor approval.

All CHS facilities located in designated evacuation zones or as directed by emergency management officials will be evacuated during a hurricane warning.

All team members will monitor communication from the Regional Executive Director or designees and assist with evacuation or emergency preparations as needed.

CHS will identify a central social media forum for updates and communication across team members and stakeholders such as the CHS Twitter account: @HelpFLKids.

Updates will be coordinated by the CHS Executive Team.

After the Storm:

Immediately following the storm, team members will verify that all residential clients and team members are safe and secure and as soon as it is safe to do so will begin damage assessment.

Team members on duty are to contact their supervisors to provide an update on the well-being of clients and team members.

Social media may be used in addition to/or in combination with other methods to communicate public announcements such as a temporary program closing and reopening.

Once the hurricane warning has been lifted, residential relief team members shall return to work at their scheduled time unless there has been communication from supervisors to the contrary. All team members are to contact their supervisors, the administrative office or announced telephone number as soon as possible to relay information on their status including their ability to return to work.

Supervisors and Directors will assess and document damage to facilities including photographs or videos and a narrative description of any damages. The Regional Executive Director will determine the feasibility of returning to evacuated facilities. Facilities must be safe and have essential utilities available prior to clients or team members being returned.

Foster parents are to contact designated program team members, the administrative office or announced telephone contact number as soon as possible to relay information on their whereabouts and well-being and that of children in their care.

Team members may return to normal work activities only after all CHS residential clients are back safely in their residential homes or another approved placement, team members are no longer required to provide hands-on childcare, and all community-based clients have been accounted for. If an office or facility is rendered unsuitable for any reason, team members will have an alternative workspace until they can return to their office.