Effective 29 April 2025

Privacy Policy

The Florida Lantern Project (“FLP”, “we”, “our”, or “us”) is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, and safeguard your personal information when you interact with us through our website, events, or other services.

1. Information we collect

We collect information you provide directly to us, such as when you:

  • Register for a workshop

  • Request evacuation or transportation assistance

  • Contact the disaster support hotline

  • Request wellness checks, emergency repairs, or home cleanup

  • Request an inspection

  • Apply for other support

  • Purchase services such as drone inspections, weather station installations, or emergency readiness kits

  • Donate or sponsor through Beacons of Hope, Lanterns of Hope, or other fundraising activities

  • Subscribe to our Lantern Keeper monthly giving program

  • Contact us by email, phone, or through our website

The types of information may include:

  • Name, email address, mailing address, phone number

  • Payment information (for donations, services, or memberships)

  • Information related to your disaster needs or service requests

  • Information related to fundraising events or sponsorships

We may also automatically collect technical information about your interaction with our website, such as IP address, browser type, device information, and pages visited.

2. How we use your information

  • Deliver disaster preparedness, response, and recovery services

  • Provide weather updates and disaster support information

  • Manage donations, sponsorships, memberships, and event registrations

  • Communicate with you about services, updates, fundraising opportunities, and important news

  • Improve our programs and outreach efforts

  • Comply with legal obligations and reporting requirements

3. How we share your information

We do not sell or rent your personal information.

We may share information with trusted partners or service providers who assist us in delivering programs or managing fundraising activities (for example payment processors and software providers), but only under confidentiality agreements. We may also share your information if required by law, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of FLP, its staff, or the community.

We believe disaster support is a universal human right.

We do not share your information with ICE, Homeland Security, or any immigration enforcement agency. The only way those entities could ever access our records is with force and a court-issued warrant. We are committed to protecting your privacy and will never cooperate with any action that threatens the safety or dignity of the people we serve.

However, some assistance programs (such as FEMA or SBA aid) are operated by government agencies we do not control, and applying to them may be available only to US citizens and/or involve different privacy practices. If you are concerned about privacy or data sharing, please contact us before seeking services connected to government programs. We’re here to help you make the safest decision.

4. Data security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your information. However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. If you believe your information has been compromised, please contact us immediately.

5. Your rights and choices

  • Request access to the personal information we hold about you

  • Request that we correct or delete your personal information, subject to legal requirements

  • Opt out of non-essential communications at any time via the unsubscribe link in our emails or by contacting us directly

Opting out of communications may affect your access to some services, especially during disaster response efforts.

6. Children’s privacy

Our services are not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children. We may collect information from parents, legal guardians, or caregivers about children under 13 in order to provide disaster relief services.

This is permitted under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) when the information is provided by a legal guardian to protect the health or safety of the child in an emergency or public safety context. We use it solely to provide essential support to families during and after disasters. If you believe we have collected information about a child without proper authorization, please contact us.

7. Third-party links

Our website may contain links to external sites we do not control. We are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of those sites.

8. Fundraising and revenue activities

Certain programs — drone inspections, weather station installations, emergency readiness kits, and Lantern Keeper memberships — may involve collecting payment and service-related information. We handle it securely and only to provide services and maintain financial sustainability. All fundraising activities, including Beacons of Hope and Lanterns of Hope, comply with applicable privacy and donor protection laws.

9. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted here with an updated effective date.

10. Contact us