Assistance for Victims of the Pulse Nightclub Shooting in Orlando
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the lead law enforcement agency responsible for investigating the shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida on June 12, 2016. Crimes can have a devastating effect on victims and their families who may need assistance coping with the impact. Providing information and assistance to victims of the shooting is an important part of our work.
The FBI is legally mandated to identify victims of federal crimes that it investigates and provide these victims with information, assistance services, and resources. The FBI’s Office for Victim Assistance (OVA) is uniquely suited to provide emergency assistance to victims of domestic and international terrorism and mass violence crimes due to its national and international scope and extensive experience in responding to victims of these crimes.
The OVA developed the Victim Assistance Rapid Deployment Team (VA-RDT) to further support the FBI’s response to criminal aviation disasters and mass casualty terrorism incidents, as well as to support field offices in multi-victim cases calling for additional resources, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in non-criminal aviation or other transportation disasters, non-federal mass casualties as part of support to local law enforcement, and other disasters as directed. We are working closely with our state and local partner agencies in Orlando to ensure that victims and families receive assistance and support.
If you were injured in or witnessed the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, you may be eligible for certain services and rights, including special funding to provide emergency assistance, crime victim compensation, and counseling. Additional information about these resources can be found at website links listed below.
If you need further information, please e-mail the FBI’s Tampa Division for any victim inquiries. Please note that this e-mail is for victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting, not for tips or leads.
If you have information about the shooting, please call the FBI Tampa Division’s tip line or submit a tip electronically.
- Tampa Division tip line: 1 (866) 838-1153
- tips.fbi.gov
For local assistance, the City of Orlando, in partnership with federal, state, local and community agencies has opened the Family Assistance Center (FAC) to address the immediate needs and provide information, support, and resources to those directly affected by the tragedy at Pulse nightclub.
Electronic Versions of Key Resources:
- Coping After Terrorism for Injured Survivors
- Coping After Terrorism for Survivors
- Practical Ideas for Coping with Trauma
- Help for Victims of Crime Brochure
- Description of the Federal Criminal Justice Process
For Children:
- Children and Youth-SAMHSA Disaster Behavioral Health Information Series Installment
- Parent Tips for Helping Preschool-Age Children After Disasters (pdf)
- Parent Tips for Helping School-Age Children After Disasters (pdf)
- After a Crisis: Helping Young Children Heal (pdf)
Additional Resources:
Florida’s crime victim compensation program, funded through the Office for Victims of Crime-administered Crime Victims Fund, helps victims offset the financial burden of funeral, mental health, medical, and other expenses related to the shootings. Following is contact information for this program:
Florida Office of the Attorney General
Bureau of Victim Compensation
The Capitol, PL-01
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050
Phone: 1 (800) 226-6667
TDD: 1 (800) 955-8771
- Florida Victim Compensation Application (pdf)
- Florida Victim Compensation Brochure (pdf)
- Florida Crimes Compensation (general overview)
- Florida Attorney General Division of Victim Services
Homicide Support Services: