Fifteen Additional Florida Counties Eligible For Disaster Assistance
Release Date: September 10, 2004
Release Number: 1545-008
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Frances
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Federal disaster aid for people affected by Hurricane Frances has been extended to include the counties of Baker, Bradford, Charlotte, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hardee, Hillsborough, Lee, Levy, Marion, Nassau, Pinellas and Union, the head of the U. S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today.
Michael D. Brown, FEMA Director and Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response, said residents of those 15 counties who suffered uninsured damages from the storm are eligible to apply for federal aid that can include grants to help pay for temporary housing and home repairs as well as other disaster-related expenses. Low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are also available to cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance.
The 15 new counties bring to 42 the total number of Florida counties designated eligible for Individual Assistance as a result of Hurricane Frances. Previously designated counties include Alachua, Brevard, Broward, Citrus, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Glades, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Indian River, Lake, Martin, Miami-Dade, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Polk, Putnam, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter and Volusia.
“I appreciate our federal partners for their continued commitment to Florida’s recovery in the wake of Hurricanes Charley and Frances,” said Gov. Jeb Bush. “The 42 counties named reflect our most impacted citizens but all Floridians who have suffered damage from these storms are eligible for FEMA aid.”
All Florida counties previously were designated eligible for 100 percent reimbursement for debris removal and the cost of emergency protective measures taken during the first 72 hours following Hurricane Frances.
Affected individuals and business owners may apply for assistance immediately by calling the toll-free registration number, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), 24 hours, seven days a week until further notice. Those with a speech or hearing impairment may call 1-800-462-7585.
Brown said residents of counties designated eligible for aid as a result of Hurricane Charley are eligible to apply for assistance a second time for damages caused by Frances.
Callers are advised to have the following information available to help speed up the application process:
A current phone number
Social Security number, if available
A general list of damages and losses
If insured, the insurance policy number, or agent's and company name
General financial information
Bank account code if direct deposit is desired
The State Emergency Response Team (SERT) is a collaboration of Florida’s emergency management agencies led by the state coordinating officer. SERT’s mission is to ensure that Florida is prepared to respond to emergencies, recover from them, and mitigate their impact. Visit http://www.floridadisaster.org for the latest information on the hurricane relief effort.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Saturday, 11-Sep-2004 21:15:01