FEMA Provides Nearly 15,000 Homes For Floridians
Release Date: February 2, 2005
Release Number: 1539-366
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Florida Individual Assistance County Data
ORLANDO, Fla. - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided nearly 15,000 manufactured homes to Floridians who needed immediate housing and had no other options in the wake of four hurricanes descending upon the state last year.
More than 13,000 travel trailers and nearly 2,000 mobile homes have been placed on residents private property, in short-term housing sites or on commercial park space leased since Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne damaged or destroyed many properties.
FEMA and the State of Florida have established housing group sites in hard-hit Charlotte, De Soto, Escambia, Hardee, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, St. Lucie and Martin counties. In communities where commercial parks exist, FEMA has leased/is leasing pad space on which residents can place manufactured homes.
Occupants typically do not pay rent for these temporary homes for up to 18 months while they repair their original dwellings or find new, permanent housing. They are, however, responsible for utilities such as electricity, phone service and cable TV.
A breakdown of the amounts and types of disaster assistance to Floridians for the 2004 hurricanes is as follows:
- More than 1.22 million storm victims have applied for federal and state assistance.
- Total approved assistance for individuals who suffered damages has surpassed $3.96 billion.
- A total of $1.12 billion in federal and state disaster assistance grants has been approved for Florida residents in all 67 counties. Of that amount, $528.6 million has been approved to pay for lodging expenses, rental assistance and minimal home repairs. The balance of $591 million covers other needs, which may include such items as repair or replacement of personal property, funeral expenses, and medical and dental costs related to a storm.
- The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved more than $1.28 billion in low-interest loans to repair storm-damaged homes and businesses. Businesses may also be eligible for economic injury loans, which assist businesses in getting back on their feet following a disaster.
- Public assistance (infrastructure) funds are flowing to local governments and certain private, nonprofit entities. More than $412 million has been obligated by FEMA for project requests found eligible for grant assistance and more than 2,630 requests for aid have been filed.
- More than $1.1 billion was paid for emergency response and protective measures.
- National Flood Insurance Program claims received total 26,956.
- More than $13.4 million has been disbursed in Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits.
- Some 532,363 visitors have been to one of the 92 mobile and fixed site Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs). Presently, 33 DRCs continue to assist applicants throughout the state.
Officials urge all homeowners, renters and business owners who sustained hurricane damage to apply for federal and state disaster assistance by the Feb. 28, 2005, deadline. Applicants can register by phone at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the hearing- and speech-impaired. The registration lines will be closed Sunday, Feb. 6 and starting Feb. 7, both numbers will operate Monday- Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Eastern Standard Time.
Applicants also may register for assistance online at FEMAs website, www.fema.gov. Look for and click on the words "Register for Disaster Assistance Online" located in the right-hand side of the page.
Attached is a county-by-county breakdown of individual disaster assistance provided to Floridians.
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 impact. 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.
For information on SERT go to www.floridadisaster.org ; For FEMA, go to www.fema.gov
Last Modified: Wednesday, 30-Mar-2005 11:13:27