“The only safe ship in a storm is leadership.”

– Faye Wattleton

We at EVOLVE Magazine hope that you and your team have made it safely through the storm. There will be an easier path for some, but the impact of Hurricane Ian will be felt throughout our community for some time to come.

As we look forward to a return to normality, facing the challenges of today and getting back to business doesn’t have to happen in isolation. Already local, state and federal agencies are gearing up to provide residents and business owners with a wide range of assistance programs. And neighbors, friends and business colleagues are pitching in to help with recovery and rebuilding efforts.

In a letter to members, St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Isabelle Renault outlined that some of the services available include a Business Damage Assessment Survey available to business owners throughout the Greater Daytona and First Coast regions. The survey was activated by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and the State Emergency Response Team. Survey responses will allow the state to expedite Hurricane Ian recovery efforts by gathering data and assessing the needs of affected businesses. Recovery assistance is also available from the U.S. Small Business Administration at www.sba.gov.

While we all sought safety from the storm individually in our homes or in shelters, we face the aftermath together and will move forward and evolve as a community.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to all who have suffered losses.