Florida Tornadoes: Disaster Aid Nears $5 Million
Release Date: February 15, 2007
Release Number: 1679-011
» More Information on Florida Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
» More Information on Florida Severe Storms and Tornadoes
ORLANDO, Fla. -- To date, more than 2,000 applicants from the February 3 severe storms and tornadoes declaration, and more than 200 applicants from the February 8 declaration have applied for federal and state disaster assistance.
The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved $2,345,581 in housing (HA) and other needs assistance (ONA) under the Individuals and Households Programs (IHP). The U.S. Small Business Administration has provided $2,585,500 in low-interest disaster-related loans to homeowners and renters in the four declared counties in east
central Florida.
Recovery Officials from FEMA and the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) urge all homeowners, renters and business owners who sustained damage from the severe storms or tornadoes to apply to FEMA for help as soon as possible.
Disasters Overview at a Glance:
| Registrations | HA | ONA | SBA | Inspections | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR-1679 | 2020 In declared counties |
$1,834,327 309 Approved |
$ 232,876 140 Approved |
$2,585,500 30 Approved, 74 pending |
95.4% Complete 891 issued |
| DR-1680 | 222 In declared counties |
$253,619 73 Approved |
$ 24,759 23 Approved |
Pending Approvals | 89.9% Complete 138 issued |
SBA Loans: 1679
| Home Loan Applications Issued | 1,427 |
| Returned | 133 |
| Approved | 30 |
| Business Loan Applications Issued | 190 |
| Returned | 8 |
| Approved | 0 |
SBA Loans: 1680
| Home Loan Applications Issued | 118 |
| Returned | 2 |
| Approved | 0 |
| Business Loan Applications Issued | 14 |
| Returned | 1 |
| Approved | 0 |
- Direct Housing:
- The first two travel trailers have been leased; and
- Approximately 20 applicants are approved to receive travel trailers
- Outreach:
- Community Relations (Six Teams): Attending community meetings providing FEMA registration information to schools, businesses, senior centers, and churches in each declared counties; and meeting with Spanish speaking residents who sustained storm damage.
- Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs- Four Counties): Located in Lake, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia counties; and
- Visits total more than 1,900
- Public Assistance:
- First Applicant Briefings took place on Friday, February 9;
- Amended Declaration; and Public Assistance for Lake, Sumter and Volusia Counties now include repairs to roads and bridges, water control facilities, buildings and equipment, utilities and parks/recreational facilities.
The number to call to register for assistance is 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). The hearing- and speech-impaired should call TTY 1-800-462-7585. Six Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are located in the affected counties, and are open seven-days a week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Eastern Standard Time. Applicants may also register online by going to the FEMA website at www.fema.gov and clicking on the red "hot-link" button in the upper right-hand portion of the page marked "Register for Disaster Assistance Online."
FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident, initiates mitigation activities and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA works closely with state and local emergency managers, law enforcement personnel, firefighters and other first responders. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Monday, 26-Feb-2007 11:45:06