Disaster Contractors Network activated for hurricane season

Florida’s Disaster Contractors Network (DCN) is now activated to support homeowners in the aftermath of a storm.

The Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) supports DCN, a free resource that connects homeowners to Florida-licensed contractors and suppliers to perform emergency repairs after a storm strikes.

The network also uses proactive education and outreach to protect homeowners from being targeted by unlicensed contractors. Florida has more than 87,000 construction industry licensees.

“After a storm, homeowners are often faced with urgent repair decisions at a time when they are most vulnerable to fraud and unlicensed activity,” DBPR Secretary Melanie Griffin said.

“The Disaster Contractors Network helps connect Floridians with licensed contractors whose credentials have been verified through DBPR, giving homeowners a trusted resource when they need it most. As we prepare for hurricane season, I encourage Floridians to make DCNOnline.org part of their recovery toolkit and remember to always verify a contractor’s license before hiring.”

Hurricane season began Monday, prompting the network’s activation.

Through DCN, homeowners are able to search by county for a list of Florida-licensed contractors serving their community with construction services, after a hurricane or tropical storm hits and homeowners are able to safely assess repair needs.

Numerous Florida contractors and suppliers have already registered with DCN. Those who have not can still do so on the network’s website.

DCN has been in effect for hurricane season for 20 years. It was instrumental in recovery efforts following Hurricanes Ian, Michael and Charley, three of the state’s most devastating storms on record.

For the first time in more than a decade, the Atlantic hurricane season is expected to produce a below-average number of storms this year, due to a strong El Niño. Under an El Niño weather pattern, strong wind shear helps break up hurricanes.

As a result, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts just three to six hurricanes this year and between eight and 14 tropical storms. The Barcelona Supercomputing Center, in partnership with Colorado State University, predicts five hurricanes this season, based on an aggregation of hurricane forecasting center predictions across the globe. The historical average is seven.