• $350,000 of Hurricane Ian Disaster relief checks were distributed today
• The Florida Sheriffs Association is a not-for-profit corporation made up of Florida sheriffs, approximately 3,000 business leaders and 100,000 citizens throughout the state

The Florida Deputy Sheriff’s Association (FDSA) distributed $350,000 in Hurricane Ian Disaster relief funds to 192 employees of nine Florida Sheriffs’ Offices on Monday.

Flagler County Sheriff and FDSA President Rick Staly was joined by Florida Sheriffs Association President and Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis, Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno and Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummel, along with FDSA Board of Directors and FDSA Executive Director Keith Dean to present the checks during a press conference at the Lee County Sheriff’s Office headquarters.

“Our goal was to quickly deliver Hurricane Ian relief funds to employees of Sheriffs’ Offices hit the hardest so they could start the recovery process,” said Staly. “Sheriffs’ Office employees were dedicated to their communities and worked for days without a break serving their community and couldn’t make repairs to their own home. Many have been displaced and we hope this helps them recover. I also want to thank Governor and First Lady DeSantis as without their support today, this would not have been possible.”

FDSA in partnership with the Florida Sheriffs Association (FSA) and Governor Ron DeSantis’ Hurricane Relief Fund have received $615,000 in donations to support Florida Sheriffs’ Office employees devastated by Hurricane Ian. DeSantis presented a $500,000 check to FSA as part of FDSA’s one-million-dollar fundraising goal.

 “Before, during, and especially after Hurricane Ian, Florida sheriffs’ offices’ personnel from across the state have been on the ground doing all they can to protect and to serve their communities. We now know that many are doing so despite their own homes being lost,” Nienhuis added. “Thanks to Governor DeSantis and First Lady DeSantis, along with the FSA and FDSA partners and members, we are able to help bridge a financial gap and provide some mental relief as our heroes are actively helping pick up the pieces of the lives of others while they try to temporarily set aside the devastation they and their families face personally.”

Employees of Lee, Charlotte, Hendry, Hardee, Desoto, Sarasota, Seminole, Volusia and Flagler County Sheriffs’ Offices were among the 192 checks being distributed today. According to a news release, FDSA is still accepting applications from Florida Sheriffs’ Office employees and additional Disaster Relief funds will be distributed.