Flagler County Designated For Disaster Assistance
Release Date: August 25, 2004
Release Number: 1539-041
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Charley and Tropical Storm Bonnie
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Disaster assistance has been made available for Flagler County to help residents and local governments recover from the effects of Hurricane Charley in Florida, the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today.
Michael D. Brown, FEMA Director and Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response at the Department of Homeland Security, said the county was added to the list of eligible jurisdictions based on a review of damage data gathered by federal and state disaster recovery officials. The previously designated counties include Brevard, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Polk, St. Johns, Sarasota, Seminole, and Volusia Counties.
“We remain committed to ensuring that every qualified family and business receives the help they need and that vital community facilities are restored to full service as quickly as possible,” Brown said.
Brown said that stricken individuals and business owners in Flagler County are eligible to apply for a wide range of state and federal disaster assistance programs under the major disaster declaration issued by President Bush on August 13, 2004. The aid can include funding for temporary disaster housing assistance, U. S. Small Business Administration low-interest loans for individuals and business owners to repair or replace real or personal property and housing repair; grants to help meet serious disaster-related needs and expenses not covered by insurance or other assistance programs; and disaster unemployment assistance.
Affected individuals and business owners in Flagler County may apply for assistance immediately by calling the toll-free registration number, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), 24 hours daily until further notice. Those with a speech or hearing impairment may call TTY 1-800-462-7585.
Callers are advised to have the following information available to help speed up the application process:
- Your current phone number
- Your Social Security number, if available
- A general list of damages and losses you suffered
- If insured, your insurance policy number, or your agent's and company name
- General financial information
- Bank account code if you wish to speed up your assistance with direct deposit
FEMA disaster assistance covers basic needs only and will not normally compensate you for your entire loss. If you have insurance, the government may help pay for basic needs not covered under your insurance policy. Individuals should contact their insurance agent right away, and then call FEMA to apply. Some disaster aid does not have to be paid back, while other forms of help may come in the form of loans. The FEMA representative will explain the details to you when you call.
The State Emergency Response Team 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. For the latest information on the hurricane relief effort, visit http://www.floridadisaster.org.
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: Sunday, 29-Aug-2004 14:57:39