Housing Displaced Floridians Is Sert/Fema's #1 Focus
Release Date: December 10, 2004
Release Number: 1539-309
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ORLANDO, Fla. -- Nearly 11,000 mobile homes and travel trailers have been delivered and are now occupied by Floridians who suffered serious housing losses from Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne, according to Florida’s State Emergency Response Team (SERT) and the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Daily registration for disaster assistance continues and housing Floridians displaced by this year’s severe weather continues to be SERT and FEMA’s primary focus.
Out of 1.17 million disaster aid applicants, FEMA inspectors completed 768,300 inspections of damaged residences to verify eligibility for aid. Of that amount, 264,500 applicants were found eligible for direct housing such as mobile homes or travel trailers, or some form of temporary housing financial assistance.
Additionally, SERT, FEMA and Florida State University along with realtor organizations partnered to create a website to assist landlords and potential tenants with their rental needs. That Web site, www.DHRonline.org, currently lists more than 22,200 housing resources.
Rental landlords who do not have access to the Internet but have property available to rent may list their property by sending their information via FAX at 1-407-858-6230 or 1-407-858-2018.
Another available source of housing information is the recently created Florida Hurricane Housing Hotline, 1-888-472-1727. The Hotline is operational every day, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Eastern time.
Floridians are asked to look around their neighborhoods for storm victims who may appear to not have access to newspaper, radio or television news and encourage them to register with FEMA as soon as possible.
The toll-free registration number is 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the hearing- and/or speech impaired. The lines are open every day from 6 a.m. to midnight.
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: Friday, 10-Dec-2004 17:29:11