Weekly Update: Florida Disaster Recovery Gains Speed
More Than 7,000 Apply, Nearly $7 million Approved in Aid for Disaster Damage
Release Date: September 3, 2008
Release Number: 1785-015
» More Information on Florida Tropical Storm Fay
ORLANDO, Fla. -- State and federal recovery programs are helping Floridians in need of disaster assistance after Tropical Storm Fay saturated large portions of the state for 11 days in late August.
Residents with disaster-related loss or damage in Brevard, Duval, Hendry, Lee, Leon, Okeechobee, Seminole, St. Lucie, Volusia and Wakulla counties are eligible for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Individual Assistance programs under a major disaster declaration and subsequent amendments.
In addition, 30 counties are eligible for FEMA's Public Assistance program that reimburses local and state agencies and certain non-profit agencies for the expenses and damages that occurred during the response and recovery phase of the disaster.
Public Assistance grants are awarded to help pay for emergency protective measures such as police overtime, debris clearance to open vital roads and rights-of-way, removal of threats to public safety and permanent repairs to roads, public buildings, utilities and parks.
A first week snapshot:
- As of close of business Sept. 3, a total of 7,748 individuals, households and businesses from the declared counties have applied for disaster assistance.
- Total assistance from FEMA's Individual and Households Program now stands at $6,600,245. Disbursed funds total $6,203,079 or 94 percent of approved funding.
- The Individual and Households Program provides assistance in two main categories - Housing Assistance and Other Needs Assistance. IHP approved funding to 1,898 applicants totals. Housing Assistance helps pay for rental assistance, temporary lodging and housing repairs. Approved Housing Assistance funding to 1,516 homeowners and renters totals more than $5.9 million.
- Other Needs Assistance helps cover personal property loss, medical costs and other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance to individuals and households. Approved Other Needs Assistance funding to 730 individuals and households totals more than $670,700.
- The U.S. Small Business Administration has issued 4,259 low-interest, disaster loan applications - 3,688 for homes and 562 for businesses. Those who have received the applications are urged to complete and return them as soon as possible.
- Disaster Recovery Centers continue to open to meet the needs of survivors. Currently nine centers have opened - two this week, with more scheduled once tropical weather moves through the area. The centers provide a place for people to register for disaster assistance, talk with recovery specialists about their case, ask questions and learn about other programs that may be able to help.
- FEMA-contracted housing inspectors have completed more than 5,128 of 6,301 requests to view reported housing damages (82 percent). Turnaround time from registration to inspection averages less than two days.
- Residents with disaster-related damage are urged to register by calling FEMA
toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). The hard of hearing, deaf or speech impaired may call the TTY number at 800-462-7585 to apply. Multilingual operators are available to speak to applicants. The toll-free telephone numbers are open from 7 a.m. to midnight daily until further notice. Applicants may also register online at www.fema.gov.
- When registering, applicants should have the following information readily available:
- Current and pre-disaster address;
- Current telephone numbers;
- Social Security number; and
- Insurance coverage, policy number(s) and agent's name if possible.
Registration takes about 20 minutes and once all essential information is recorded an application number is assigned.
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 03-Sep-2008 15:30:32