Miami, FL -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Florida Division of Emergency Management and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) have approved disaster assistance totaling more than $170 million to thousands of South Florida residents affected by the severe storms and flooding that swamped the area on October 3rd and 4th.
State and federal recovery officials said that disaster aid available to homeowners, renters and businesses includes: emergency housing assistance, low-interest SBA loans, legal services, free crisis counseling, disaster-related unemployment benefits, and, in some cases, grants to cover other uninsured or underinsured losses. The specific amount and type of assistance provided varies from case to case.
Key facts and figures in the eight weeks since the presidential disaster declaration:
- Applications for Assistance: 51,475 individuals have called the toll-free registration number to register for assistance.
- Emergency Housing Assistance: $28.5 million in housing assistance has been approved for 19,743 households.
- Individual and Family Grants: $31.3 million has been approved in grants to meet serious needs not covered by insurance or charitable organizations.
- SBA: $18.5 million has been approved for low-interest disaster-related loans to 9,286 eligible homeowners, renters and businesses.
- Public Assistance Reimbursements: $92.6 million has been obligated for disaster-incurred costs, including debris removal and emergency protective services, such as police and emergency workers overtime, as well as permanent infrastructure repairs.
Other Milestones:
- Registration Deadlines: The deadline for applying for disaster assistance in the designated counties of Broward, Collier, Miami-Dade, and Monroe is Monday, Dec.4th.
- SBA Workshops will continue to operate in the former DRCs until further notice to help home owners, renters, and local businesses complete low-interest loan applications. Through Saturday, Dec. 2nd, a FEMA disaster-housing specialist will be available at each workshop. SBA Workshop locales and hours of operation are:
| ADDRESS: | SBA WORKSHOP HOURS: |
|---|---|
| North Miami Public Library 835 NE 132nd Street North Miami, FL |
9:00 A.M. - 7 P.M. Monday-Friday 9:00 A.M. - 5 P.M. Saturday Until further notice |
| Stephen P. Clark Bldg. Grapeland Park 1650 NW 37th Avenue Miami, FL |
9:00 A.M. - 7 P.M. Monday-Saturday Until further notice |
| Sweetwater City Hall 500 SW 109th Avenue Sweetwater, FL |
9:00 A.M. - 7 P.M. Monday-Saturday Until further notice |
State and federal recovery officials in Florida are also urging residents in flood-prone areas to consider the purchase of flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance program (NFIP). Purchase of NFIP policies, or further information, is usually available through a resident's existing insurance company.
In addition, residents living in areas subject to recurring floods should consider implementing household risk-reduction measures including the elevation of all air-conditioning and hot-water systems, as well as washers and dryers on platforms at least 12 inches above the recent flood levels. Electrical panels and utilities also sh...