Florida nonprofit opens waitlist for digital hurricane prep tool

By AI, Created 5:01 PM UTC, June 01, 2026, /AGP/ – Florida Trusted Data Sharing Organization is launching a Digital Backpack this summer to help residents store key documents, monitor identity theft and prepare for hurricane-related fraud. The nonprofit says the platform is designed to fill a gap in emergency planning by giving families one secure place to manage critical information.

Why it matters: - Florida families face storm season with a digital vulnerability that traditional preparedness guides often ignore. - The Digital Backpack is designed to help residents keep critical records accessible when they need to file insurance claims, recover after a disaster or spot fraud. - The nonprofit says the platform could also reduce exposure to the online scams and identity theft that spike during and after hurricanes.

What happened: - Florida Trusted Data Sharing Organization opened a waitlist for its Digital Backpack ahead of a summer launch. - The nonprofit announced the product in Fort Myers on June 1, 2026, as hurricane season began. - Shelley Mannino, executive director of FLTDSO, said the platform is meant to make digital organization and protection simple and accessible for Florida residents. - Residents can join the waitlist now at fltdso.org.

The details: - The Digital Backpack will offer 24/7 identity monitoring, fraud protection and AI-powered access to critical documents. - Users will be able to upload documents and access them from any device. - The platform will include an Ask feature that lets members query documents in plain language and get immediate answers. - Members will be able to share a full document vault with trusted family members or send individual documents. - FLTDSO says the platform bundles document management, identity monitoring, scam protection, fraud recovery coverage, device security and family planning tools. - The nonprofit says the combined capabilities would cost Florida families more than $1,000 a year if purchased separately. - The system is built with partners in identity protection and secure document management. - Velatura, the technology company behind FLTDSO, says the Digital Backpack runs on infrastructure it has used for more than a decade to protect health information for millions of Americans. - FLTDSO says its outreach has included community expos in Daytona Beach, Oldsmar, The Villages and St. Petersburg. - The organization is offering partnership models for credit unions, senior centers, homeowners associations, faith communities and other groups serving Florida families. - Organizations interested in partnerships can contact Shelley Mannino at shelley.mannino@velatura.org.

Between the lines: - Recent major hurricanes left many families unable to produce documentation needed to prove losses, which contributed to an estimated 30% to 40% of claims being denied or closed without payment. - The Consumer Federation of America estimates Florida families lose $7.7 billion annually to online scams. - Seniors are disproportionately targeted during and after disasters, raising the stakes for identity monitoring and fraud recovery tools. - FLTDSO is positioning the Digital Backpack as both a preparedness tool and a financial protection product, not just a document vault. - Dr. Tim Pletcher, chief executive officer of Velatura, said the platform addresses tools that have been too expensive, too fragmented or too complicated for many families.

What’s next: - FLTDSO says the Digital Backpack will launch this summer. - Community outreach will continue after launch through local partnerships. - The nonprofit expects partner organizations to help deliver the service at a lower cost to members.

The bottom line: - FLTDSO is trying to make digital preparedness part of hurricane readiness, with one platform for documents, fraud protection and family access.