Following the damage and destruction caused by
Hurricanes Milton and Helene, Comcast will provide additional cash
and in-kind contributions to support Florida's recovery efforts
WEST
PALM BEACH, Fla., Oct. 15,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Comcast NBCUniversal today
announced it will provide $500,000 in cash and in-kind contributions to
community organizations in Florida
after the devastation left behind by Hurricane Milton. The donation
will help with disaster relief and recovery efforts following the
storm's landfall and the ongoing work after Hurricane Helene's
damage and destruction across the state.
Comcast will donate $250,000
total in cash: $100,000 will go
to the Florida Disaster Fund and $150,000 will go to 11 community-based
organizations.
Those organizations include: All Faiths Food Bank, Catholic
Charities of Southwest Florida,
Community Foundation of Sarasota
County, FISH of SAN-CAP, Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, Harry Chapin Food Bank,
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central
Florida, United Way of Lake
and Sumter Counties, United Way of
Lee, Hendry, and Glades, United Way of Palm Beach County, and United Way of St. Lucie
& Okeechobee.
Comcast will also provide $250,000 worth of in-kind contributions via
airtime for public service announcements to help keep impacted
Florida communities safe and
informed. When combined with the previously announced Hurricane
Helene disaster relief funds, Comcast's contributions to the
impacted regions in southeast U.S. total $1.5 million in cash and in-kind donations and
specifically in Florida total
$700,000 in cash and in-kind
donations.
The Florida Disaster Fund, managed by Volunteer Florida, is the
State of Florida's official
private fund established to assist Florida communities as they recover during
times of disaster. The fund distributes money to service
organizations that serve individuals within their local communities
with disaster response and recovery.
"On behalf of Volunteer Florida, we extend our heartfelt
appreciation to Comcast for their continued support and additional
contribution to the Florida Disaster Fund in response to Hurricanes
Helene and Milton," said Josie
Tamayo, CEO of Volunteer Florida. "We are grateful that
our partners in the business community are joining us in this
effort. Their contributions will help provide resources with
recovery efforts in the affected communities."
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central
Florida collects, stores and distributes donated food to
more than 750 feeding partners in seven Central Florida counties.
"After Hurricane Milton, so many families are displaced and
struggling to access basic necessities. Second Harvest of
Central Florida has been hard at
work providing disaster meals to the hardest-hit areas in our
community. Comcast NBCUniversal's investment will help us continue
to go above and beyond to provide nutrition for families, kids and
seniors impacted by the storm," said Derrick Chubbs, President & CEO of Second
Harvest Food Bank of Central
Florida. "As families start to get back on their feet
again, the need for food assistance will only increase. We thank
Comcast for supporting us as we look ahead."
"Our Sanibel community has shown incredible strength and
resilience in the wake of Hurricane Milton, coming together to
support one another and begin the process of recovery. Restoring
communication and internet access has been key in helping families
regain stability and allowing businesses to reopen," said
Sanibel Mayor Richard Johnson. "We thank Comcast and all
of their technicians for their swift action and commitment to
restoring services as quickly as possible. Their efforts have
empowered families and businesses to move forward."
The Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund, which is managed by
the Community Foundation of Sarasota
County, is a local resource for the long-term, ongoing needs
that emerge over time in disaster-affected communities.
"We so appreciate Comcast's support of long-term recovery
efforts that will help the great Sarasota
County area thoughtfully and strategically rebuild from this
historic hurricane season," said Roxie
Jerde, President and CEO of the Community Foundation.
"Thanks to partners like Comcast that recognize the work to come,
the long recovery journey for our community is brighter."
"We promised to stand with Florida during difficult times. With today's
announcement and our ongoing restoration efforts, we're sending a
clear message. We're here and we'll be here for our communities as
they work to recover from these extreme storms," said
Jeff Buzzelli, Senior Vice
President for Comcast's Florida Region. "The determination of
our teams including construction, engineers, maintenance and
technicians has been relentless. They've been working nonstop since
Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton's landfalls with a single
mission, to restore connectivity for residential and commercial
customers across the state. Our thoughts are with everyone impacted
and we're proud to invest in trusted organizations who are helping
our neighbors."
Comcast's Commitment to Restoring Services After Hurricanes
Milton and Helene
Comcast's Storm Team has been on the ground in Florida since Hurricane Helene made landfall,
collaborating closely with local authorities and utilities to
repair our network and bring back services to homes and
businesses.
Following the devastating tornado outbreak caused by Hurricane
Milton, millions of people were left without electricity. Our
dedicated crews have been working tirelessly, making significant
progress in restoring connectivity in accessible areas. Currently,
we have successfully restored services to 90% of the customers
impacted by Hurricane Milton.
Our network is gradually coming back online as power is restored
and our technicians repair or replace damaged equipment. To bolster
our workforce, we have deployed hundreds of technicians, including
Xfinity technicians from our Beltway and Keystone regions, along
with additional contracted crews, to expedite the restoration
process. We are committed to working non-stop until all Comcast
Business and Xfinity services are fully restored.
To help with connectivity during times like these when it
matters most, Comcast has opened more than 362,000 public
Xfinity WiFi Hotspots in Florida. They are open to everyone,
including non-Xfinity customers, and are free to use. To find the
nearest hotspot location in your city, please search the WiFi
Hotspot Map, enter your zip code, zoom in on the interactive map to
view the results and click on the locations for details.
To assist in the hard-hit area of Sarasota, Comcast deployed the Xfinity Support
Center to the Selby Library. Anyone can visit the location at 1331
1st Street, Sarasota, FL 34236 and
connect to free WiFi. The Xfinity Support Center also will operate
a store at the location to assist customers.
Help Prevent New Communication Outages While We Recover –
Don't Cut the Fiber
Restoring your ability to communicate during our recovery is a
critical priority. Communication lines carry vital messages
including 911 and emergency services and provide access to the
Internet and social media so that you can contact loved ones.
Here are some tips to prevent further damage or outages as we
recover:
- When clearing downed trees, do not touch or cut lines as they
may be live and operational.
- Do not pile debris on or near utility pedestals.
- Do not drive over lines.
- Do not cut lines. It is faster to repair than to replace
damaged lines.
- Do not touch or remove downed or damaged lines.
Always call 811 before you dig (or
1-800-272-3020). Call your utility providers directly to
report down or cut lines and stay clear of the area.
These efforts are part of the company's ongoing commitment to
providing resources and support to communities during times of
unexpected need. Please visit the Comcast Florida webpage for more
information on the latest developments and updates on our relief
efforts.
About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq:
CMCSA) is a global media and technology company. From the
connectivity and platforms, we provide, to the content and
experiences we create, our businesses reach hundreds of millions of
customers, viewers, and guests worldwide. We deliver world-class
broadband, wireless, and video through Xfinity, Comcast Business,
and Sky; produce, distribute, and stream leading entertainment,
sports, and news through brands including NBC, Telemundo,
Universal, Peacock, and Sky; and bring incredible theme parks and
attractions to life through Universal Destinations &
Experiences. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more
information.
Media Contact
Sydney
Freeman
sydney_freeman@comcast.com
https://florida.comcast.com/
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