FEMA's Long Term Recovery Office Supports Katrina Response In The Gulf Coast, While Continuing Efforts On Behalf Of Floridians
Release Date: September 1, 2005
Release Number: LTR-05-016
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ORLANDO, Fla. -- With Katrina’s landfall, disaster recovery workers around the country, including in Florida, mobilized to respond. Long term recovery staff in Florida continue their efforts on behalf of those affected by the six hurricanes that have made landfall in the state since last August, while supporting the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency’s response in areas heavily impacted by Hurricane Katrina’s second landfall.
“We in Florida, who know all too well the challenges faced by hurricane victims, will contribute expertise and support in the immediate response to Hurricane Katrina,” said Scott R. Morris, director of Florida Long Term Recovery for FEMA. “But those efforts will not detract from our commitment to providing all eligible assistance to those Floridians affected by Charley, Frances, Ivan, Jeanne, Dennis, and Katrina.”
FEMA’s long term recovery office is staffed with state and federal personnel providing continued support to Floridians and assisting state agencies and local governments in rebuilding from the 2004 and 2005 hurricanes.
“Those who have gone through the recovery process of last year’s hurricanes know full well the support required immediately following a disaster,” said Larry Koslick, recovery manager of the Florida State Emergency Response Team (SERT). “With federal and state emergency response experts centrally located in Florida, they can contribute to the staging of resources and other efforts in the immediate response to those affected by Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast.”
In particular, support personnel are assisting in processing, training and supplying disaster assistance employees heading to help Katrina victims. The Orlando facility will provide space for a staging area and an applicant services contact center.
Long term recovery is the year-round focus of FEMA’s Florida office, with particular attention paid to helping communities recover in a way that better prepares them for future disasters. Staff continues working with state agencies and local governments on Florida’s hurricane recovery, including funding for 20,000 projects under the Public Assistance program. In the year since Charley began a punishing cycle of back-to-back hurricanes, more than $1.7 billion in federal funding has been made available to reimburse communities for protective measures, debris removal and permanent repairs to infrastructure.
The office will also continue to support those Floridians in need of permanent housing as families continue to move out of FEMA mobile-home group sites. The number of temporary housing units has been cut in half, from a total of more than 16,000 temporary housing units at the peak of recovery to 7,972 FEMA housing units still occupied, including 172 for victims of Dennis. Not only does this mean that Florida’s hurricane victims are finding permanent housing solutions, it also frees up travel trailers for displaced residents affected by Katrina.
After Katrina’s southern landfall on August 24 and its pass through the Panhandle on August 29, FEMA housing personnel have been surveying mobile-home group sites. Minimal damage was reported. Any damage from Katrina to FEMA-supplied mobile homes or travel trailers will be repaired by FEMA’s contract maintenance service.
In addition, public assistance is now available in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Monroe counties to help local governments repair or replace damaged roads and bridges, water control facilities, public buildings and their contents, publicly-owned utilities, and parks and recreation areas. The counties are also eligible for funding for emergency services and certain debris removal costs related to the storm.
For those individuals in the Panhandle affected by Hurricane Dennis, applications are still being taken and processed. The last day to register for assistance for damages caused by Dennis is Sept. 8. Five disaster recovery centers continue to operate, providing an opportunity for hurricane victims to get their questions answered and receive help filling out U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loan applications.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 07-Sep-2005 10:19:34