Today, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) and FloridaCommerce have collaborated with the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) to waive no-pet policies at lodging establishments in anticipation of Hurricane Milton. This initiative is directed by Governor DeSantis to ensure that Floridians in evacuation zones can bring their pets along as they seek shelter.
VISIT FLORIDA has partnered with Expedia and Priceline to create emergency accommodation portals for those needing a place to stay. Lodging operators who have waived pet policies are encouraged to complete DBPR’s Lodging Pet Fee Waiver Information Sheet, available on their website.
“The flexibility of a waived pet policy can be the difference in a family deciding to evacuate a flood zone and seek safe shelter,” said Melanie S. Griffin, Secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. She expressed gratitude towards lodging licensees who have already relaxed policies for evacuees.
FloridaCommerce Secretary J. Alex Kelly highlighted the importance of accommodating pets during evacuations: “Pets are an incredible part of so many families across our state, and I’m glad we could work with the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association to ensure our four-legged Floridians have a place to shelter from the coming storm.”
Carol Dover, President and CEO of FRLA, emphasized the role hotels play during emergencies: “It is critical that hotels relax or waive their no-pet policies and pet fees to ensure that families safely evacuate and stay together with their beloved pets.”
Kevin Guthrie, Executive Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, urged residents not to leave pets behind: “As Floridians evacuate ahead of Hurricane Milton, I want to ensure residents don’t have to worry about an extra financial burden.”
Hurricane Milton is expected to hit Florida's Gulf Coast as a major hurricane. For more updates, follow @FLSERT on social media or visit FloridaDisaster.org/Updates.
The DBPR oversees nearly 1.7 million businesses in over 30 industries across Florida. More information can be found at MyFloridaLicense.com.