FEMA Sending Temp Housing to 4 Fla. Counties

WASHINGTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved the state of Florida’s request for direct temporary housing in Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto and Lee counties. It will send travel trailers and larger manufactured housing units to help eligible Hurricane Ian survivors get a roof over their head.

FEMA says it agreed to provide the temporary housing because rental assistance is enough to meet the housing need in those counties.

FEMA will notify applicants who are eligible for direct housing, noting that it will take time to transport, permit, install and inspect the units before they’re available. Direct Temporary Housing Assistance may be provided for up to 18 months from Sept. 29, 2022, the date of the federal disaster declaration, to March 28, 2024.

According to FEMA’s latest updated numbers, it has provided more than $1.4 billion so far through federal grants, disaster loans and flood insurance payments to the state and households to help survivors after Hurricane Ian. Florida has received $322 million to date, and individual households have received $643 million to households.

FEMA’s latest update on other Hurricane Ian efforts

• FEMA extended the proof of loss requirement for National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policyholders in Florida from 60 to 365 days. For more information on how to file a flood insurance claim, visit How to Start Your Flood Insurance Claim.
• FEMA offers assistance in 26 counties in Florida: Brevard, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns and Volusia counties.
• Survivors can visit one of 19 Disaster Recovery Centers operating in Brevard, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee (2 locations), Manatee, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns and Volusia counties. As centers are added, real-time locations will be updated at FloridaDisaster.org.
• FEMA will pay hotel and motel costs for eligible survivors in some cases. Along with the state of Florida, it activated the Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program, which allows FEMA to make payments directly to participating hotels and motels in Alabama, Florida and Georgia that provide emergency shelter to survivors. To date, the program provides housing to 2,127 households with 5,393 members.
• The U.S. Small Business Administration approved $264 million in low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters and business owners so far. Business Recovery Centers are located in Collier, DeSoto, Hillsborough, Lee and Seminole counties.
• FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program has received more than 42,000 flood insurance claims and paid more than $184 million to policyholders, including $123 million in advance payments.
• NFIP policyholders may receive up to $1,000 to reimburse the purchase of supplies like sandbags, plastic sheeting and lumber. They may also receive up to $1,000 in storage expenses if they moved insured property. Policyholders should file a claim for flood loss avoidance reimbursement, regardless of whether it was successful in preventing flood damage.
• Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available to eligible survivors. Floridians can file a claim by going to Disaster Unemployment Assistance – FloridaJobs.org and selecting “Apply for Hurricane Ian DUA,” visiting a local CareerSource Career Center, or calling (800) 385-3920. Customer service representatives are available Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET.
• Low-income Florida residents may be eligible for assistance from the Department of Agriculture’s Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP). Survivors can find more information on Florida’s D-SNAP program by visiting the Florida Department of Children and Families’ Hurricane Ian Response & Recovery website.
• Operation Blue Roof has installed 12,657 roofs so far. This is a free service is currently operating in Charlotte, Collier, Desoto, Lee and Sarasota counties. Residents impacted by Hurricane Ian can sign up at BlueRoof.us or call toll-free at 1-888-ROOF-BLU (1-888-766-3258) for more information. The call center will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.
• If a household uses adaptive or accessibility items that were damaged by Hurricane Ian, FEMA may offer help. Visit Update to FEMA’s Individual Assistance Program and Policy Guide for more info.

For more information on Hurricane Ian recovery efforts and survivor options, visit Florida Realtors Hurricane Recovery Center.

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