FEMA/State Hurricane Response Summary For September 20 

Release Date: September 20, 2004
Release Number: 1539-129

» More Information on Florida Hurricane Charley and Tropical Storm Bonnie
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Ivan
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Frances

ORLANDO, Fla. – Floridians whose homes were flooded or rain-soaked as a result of the recent hurricanes should be alert for mold growth and prepared to remove it as a potential health hazard.

Mold spores travel through the air. Within days of a flood they will become attached to wet dry wall and other household materials that retain moisture and begin multiplying. Mold can be hazardous to children, the elderly and people with respiratory problems.

Local health authorities or the American Red Cross can provide information on mold removal using dilute solutions of chlorine bleach. After cleaning, mold-covered areas should be thoroughly dried. A breathing mask should be worn during cleanup to minimize exposure.

Mold is one of many problems faced by Floridians in their hurricane recovery. The answers to many recovery questions can be found online at www.fema.gov, or in the guide to assistance that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides each applicant. The FEMA registration line, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), has responded to 472,538 requests for aid from victims of Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Ivan.

There are now 27 recovery centers open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily in the disaster counties where residents can go to check their applications for assistance, meet with loan specialists for the Small Business Administration, and get information about available federal and state assistance. These centers have assisted 61,171 applicants.

Florida and FEMA have 1,082 manufactured homes in place as temporary housing for displaced families, of which 447 are currently occupied. Assistance for housing now totals $141.3 million. In addition, 42,192 applicants have received $53 million in rental assistance.

The Small Business Administration has approved $70 million in low-interest disaster loans. To date, FEMA has inspected 202,915 damaged properties as a result of the three storms. Plastic sheeting has been installed on 17,868 homes and 119,454 waterproof tarps have been distributed for individuals with roof damage.

Applicants have received $111.5 million to replace or repair uninsured essential property and FEMA’s disaster medical assistance teams have treated 5,771 patients in the field.

There are 997 community relations specialists working in the disaster counties to provide person-to-person assistance in the storm-affected neighborhoods. There are 3,167 persons currently in 14 shelters, 11 of which are in the area hit by Ivan.

Of the 26 million cubic yards of debris left by Hurricanes Charley and Frances, 10.7 million cubic yards have been removed. Estimates for Ivan have yet to be made.

More than 250,000 Panhandle residents are without power as a result of Hurricane Ivan with 43.6 percent restored since the storm’s passage.

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: Monday, 20-Sep-2004 15:38:32