The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced individuals and families in Baker, Brevard, Collier, Duval, Glades, Hendry, Jefferson, Lake, Lee, Leon, Marion, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Polk, Seminole, St. Lucie, Volusia, and Wakulla counties who sustained uninsured or underinsured losses are eligible for individual assistance.

FEMA's assistance program can help eligible applicants with serious unmet needs including temporary housing assistance, uninsured personal property, and medical, dental, and funeral expenses caused by the storm. Low-interest disaster loans from the Small Business Administration also are available to homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes in the designated counties.

To apply for individual assistance, call FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY). FEMA operators are available 7 a.m. to midnight local time, seven days a week, until further notice. If you experience problems reaching FEMA, please try calling them early in the morning or late in the evening. Or, you can use this link to apply for assistance online: http://www.fema.gov/assistance/index.shtm

Disaster Recovery Centers Opened

FEMA has opened Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) to expedite service once you have registered for assistance. Officials suggest you bring your identification, social security numbers, insurance information, proof of address, contact phone numbers as well as your special FEMA application number to one of the below centers which are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily until further notice.

Brevard County:

Near Lamplighter Village
503 N. John Rodes
Melbourne, FL 32904

Duval County:

Emmett Reed Community Center
1093 W. 6th Street
Jacksonville, FL 32209

Glades County:

Gun Range Classroom
1019 Gun Club Road
Moore Haven, FL 33471

Lee County:

Bonita Springs Community Center
26738 Pine Avenue
Bonita Springs, FL 34135

Leon County:
This center is set to close Friday, Sept 19 at 6 p.m
Leroy Collins Library
200 W. Park Ave.
Tallahassee, FL 32301

Nassau County:

Nassau County Building
45401 Mickler Street
Callahan, FL 32011

Seminole County:

Reflections at Hidden Lakes
520 W. Lake Mary Blvd.
Suite 101
Sanford, FL 32773

St. Lucie County:

St. Lucie Logistics Center
3855 South U.S. Hwy 1
Fort Pierce, FL 32982

Volusia County:

Wal-Mart parking lot
2400 Veterans Memorial Parkway
Orange City, FL 32763

Wakulla County:
This center is set to close Thursday, Sept 18 at 6 p.m
Agriculture Building
84 Cedar Avenue
Crawfordville, FL 32327

I encourage you to register with FEMA as soon as possible. Although no deadlines for applications have been announced yet, a 60-day deadline from the date a disaster is declared is typical.

Additional information for victims of Tropical Storm Fay can be found on the FEMA website at http://www.fema.gov/news/event.fema?id=10448.