Governor DeSantis announced that Florida received approval for a major disaster declaration for Hurricane Milton from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
- Governor DeSantis announced that Florida received approval for a major disaster declaration for Hurricane Milton from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
- What does the disaster declaration mean?
- What types of assistance are available?
- The declaration includes Individual Assistance and Public Assistance (Categories A and B).
- How to apply for assistance?
What does the disaster declaration mean?
When the federal government declares a disaster, as it has with Hurricane Milton in Florida, it means the magnitude of the damage caused by the event exceeds the response capacity of state and local governments.
This declaration enables the release of federal funds to help affected communities recover.
What types of assistance are available?
Federal assistance may include:
- Individual Assistance: Grants for home repairs, replacement of essential personal belongings, and rental assistance.
- Public Assistance: Funds to repair damaged public infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, and government buildings.
- Small Business Assistance Programs: Low-interest loans and other types of support to help businesses recover.
- Grants for Nonprofit Organizations: Funds to help organizations provide recovery services to affected communities.
The declaration includes Individual Assistance and Public Assistance (Categories A and B).
Individual Assistance, which is aid for residents and households.
It is available for the counties of: Brevard, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, DeSoto, Duval, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, and Volusia, and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida.
Public Assistance, which is available for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities.
It is available for the counties of Brevard, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, DeSoto, Duval, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, and Volusia, and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance.
How to apply for assistance?
To apply for federal assistance after a disaster, you typically need to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). You can do this online, by phone, or at a disaster recovery center.
Affected residents can apply for assistance by visiting DisasterAssistance.gov, using the FEMA mobile app, or calling (800) 621-FEMA(3362).
The state assistance helpline is now open and accepts calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole speakers are available at 1-800-342-3557.
Multi-agency resource centers are opening in our area for those who want more information on next steps following Hurricane Milton and last week’s tornado outbreak.
Agencies present at these centers will include, among others, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Department of Health, United Way, the Red Cross, the Department of Children and Families (DCF), and the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
MARTIN COUNTY:
A center is now open in Martin County at the Robert Morgade Library in Stuart, 5851 SE Community Drive.
The center will be open from Sunday, October 13, through Thursday, October 17, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
ST. LUCIE COUNTY
St. Lucie County has a resource center open at the Havert L. Fenn Center in Fort Pierce.
For more information on navigating hurricane season, residents can visit FloridaDisaster.org/Guide.
For updates on available resources in the counties, visit FloridaDisaster.org/Counties for a list of all 67 county emergency management contacts.
