FEMA And The State Of Florida Launch New Disaster Housing Website
Release Date: October 29, 2004
Release Number: 1539-244
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Charley and Tropical Storm Bonnie
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Frances
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Jeanne
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Ivan
ORLANDO, Pa. -- Floridians still in need of housing because of the recent hurricanes now can use a new website to find available rental property in their areas.
Individuals can search the Disaster Housing Resources, www.DHRonline.org, to locate properties by price, location and housing options such as number of bedrooms and baths. They also can find information about temporary housing programs and assistance programs offered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the State Emergency Response Team (SERT).
Property owners or their representatives can register free of charge to list available rental units. More than 30,000 properties already have been posted on the site.
FEMA and SERT have launched this new website to provide a central place for residents displaced because of recent hurricanes to search for immediate housing.
"After the hurricanes, housing remains a priority need for many Floridians," Gov. Jeb Bush said. "I applaud our federal partners and the State Emergency Response Team for working together to help hurricane victims find adequate and affordable housing."
The site was created by Florida State University's Florida Public Affairs Center and will be administered by FEMA and SERT for one year. Other partners include the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, the Florida Association of Realtors and the Center for Disaster Risk Policy at Florida State University.
"Identifying and providing housing for disaster victims is our top priority," said Bill Carwile, federal coordinating officer. "This innovative and invaluable tool will go a long way in assisting residents to find safe and habitable housing."
Disaster victims still in need of housing also can call the toll-free Florida Hurricane Housing Hotline at 1-888-472-1727 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Eastern time, seven days a week.
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 Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Friday, 29-Oct-2004 16:06:51