Disaster Housing Assistance For Hurricane Victims Tops $120 Million 

Release Date: September 18, 2004
Release Number: 1545-034

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ORLANDO, Fla. -- Housing assistance to Florida victims of Hurricanes Charley and Frances has reached $121.5 million, with the figure expected to rise considerably in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan, FEMA/State disaster officials announced today. Housing assistance accounts for more than half of the $213 million in disaster assistance provided to individuals and households since Charley made landfall on August 13.

"Ever since Hurricanes Charley and Frances, we have been committed to helping the residents of Florida, and the assistance we have provided in the first 30 days shows that commitment," said FEMA's Federal Coordinating Officer Bill Carwile. "That commitment will continue until the job is complete. Florida can be assured of that."

Disaster housing assistance comes in the form of grants for temporary housing, and funds to make basic repairs to homes in order to make them safe and habitable. Travel trailers and mobile homes are also an option in areas that lack the housing resources to accommodate the number of people displaced by the storm. In addition, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers low-interest loans to homeowners, renters and businesses to help with long-term recovery needs.

The following summarizes housing assistance to date for Hurricanes Charley and Frances:

Residents affected by the recent hurricanes are encouraged to call the toll-free registration line at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Persons who are speech- or hearing-impaired can call 1-800-462-7585. FEMA registration lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If your residence is damaged and you have applied for aid, an inspector will call to make an inspection of the damaged property, usually five to seven days following registration. Be sure to provide reliable contact information so that inspectors can schedule an appointment. To expedite assistance, contact your insurance company to determine your coverage.

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 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, 18-Sep-2004 15:17:54