Wanted: Rental Listings For Disaster Victims
Release Date: February 21, 2005
Release Number: 1539-382
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ORLANDO, Fla. -- Officials from Florida’s State Emergency Response Team (SERT) and the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) need rental property owners in disaster-affected areas of the state to list available units on a housing resources Web site. The information will help disaster victims displaced by the hurricanes in their search for permanent housing.
The Disaster Housing Resources Web site, http://DHRonline.org, joins those who have available rental units with those who have housing needs. Property owners can register at the site and enter information about available rental units. Those needing housing can search the Web site by location, number of bedrooms, or monthly rent.
“Thousands of Floridians’ homes were damaged or destroyed during hurricane season,” said Craig Fugate, state coordinating officer for SERT. “There’s a need for affordable rental units for those people who can’t return home because of hurricane damages.”
People whose homes were damaged or destroyed by the hurricanes continue to look for permanent housing. FEMA has provided a temporary solution for some with nearly 15,000 manufactured homes. But many of the families now living in a travel trailer or mobile home are searching for permanent housing.
“We are asking real estate managers, rental property owners, and anyone with housing resources they are willing to rent to list their properties online. Then disaster victims, or people working on their behalf, will have some options when searching for suitable housing,” said Bill Carwile, federal coordinating officer. “It’s a free listing and requires only a few minutes to register your rental unit.”
The site was developed by Florida State University’s Florida Public Affairs Center under contract to FEMA. Other partners include the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, the Florida Association of Realtors and the Center for Disaster Risk Policy at Florida State University.
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.
The State Emergency Response Team (SERT) is a collaboration of Florida’s state 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 impacts. Visit www.floridadisaster.org for the latest information on the hurricane relief efforts.
FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 02-May-2007 07:26:55