Florida’s State of Emergency response team will help local businesses impacted by the terror attack in Orlando, Gov. Scott said in an announcement Tuesday.

  • Florida Virtual Business Emergency Operations Center to assess local business needs
  • Businesses shut down or not getting customers because Orange Avenue closed
  • Owners fear customers may have been injured or killed

The businesses are certainly feeling the impact since police shut down Orange Avenue three days ago.

Daniel Broyles’ Foreign Accents' business opened on Orange Avenue 20 years ago, right near the Pulse nightclub. 

"Our business is pretty much shut down because you can’t access it but we've been here," said Broyles.

On top of that, he's worried some of their customers may be on the list of people who were killed or injured.

"Considering everything everyone is going through, the last thing we're worried about right now is how much money we're going to make," said Broyles.

But it doesn't change the fact that business has been slow for Broyles and tough for customers trying to get to the businesses.

"This is where I come to every day to buy food and stuff like that. Everything is closed. We can't even go that way, so imagine it's really hard for everybody right now," said Jessica Castro.

Governor Rick Scott announced Tuesday the state's virtual business emergency operations center will provide assistance to those local businesses impacted by this horrific tragedy.

The Governor's office released this statement:

 “The Orlando community and local business owners have come together and responded to this heartbreaking tragedy in the best way possible. We are incredibly thankful for the support demonstrated by businesses located on Orange Avenue and throughout the Orlando community this week. We must continue to work together and assist the Orlando community and all those affected in any way we can.”

The plan is to survey the businesses in need and then state agencies will provide them with information for relief programs.

Broyles said whenever they get to that point, it'll help.

"It's great, it's not something we're really thinking about right now,” Broyles said. “The time will come where we have to face the reality of business shut down for a while but right now we're not really worried about that right now. But I'm glad there are people that are thinking ahead." 

The Downtown South group will meet Wednesday during a closed meeting with businesses in the area to talk about how to revitalize after they've shut down for some time.

Effected businesses can complete a business damage assessment survey that will be used to determine which emergency support program can help. A link to the survey can be found on the Florida Virtual Business Emergency Operations Center website.