Housing, Other Needs Assistance Available From FEMA
Federal officials continue to work in partnership with state, local officials, other federal agencies and volunteer organizations to address victims' needs
Release Date: November 3, 2005
Release Number: 1609-013
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Wilma
Orlando , Fla. -- One of FEMA's primary missions in Florida in response to Hurricane Wilma is to help local and state officials provide housing assistance for disaster victims who cannot live in their hurricane-damaged homes. Aid is also available to help homeowners and renters with serious needs and necessary expenses caused by the disaster.
To be considered for such aid, individuals must reside in a county that has been declared eligible for Individual Assistance programs in the wake of Hurricane Wilma. Currently, the following counties have been designated: Brevard, Broward, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Indian River, Lee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe , Okeechobee, Palm Beach , and St. Lucie. Assistance available to those impacted by Hurricane Wilma includes Temporary Housing Assistance and Other Needs Assistance.
The first step in applying for aid is to register with FEMA. There are two ways to register: Log on to www.fema.gov , or call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for those with speech or hearing impairments. Both lines are available 24/7. After applying, to ask questions about the status of an application or assistance received, disaster victims should call the Helpline at the same numbers or visit local Disaster Recovery Centers.
TEMPORARY HOUSING ASSISTANCE is provided when an applicant's home is destroyed or damaged so badly that it cannot be lived in and there is insufficient insurance to meet the need for housing. Temporary rental assistance, grants to replace destroyed homes and repair grants are included in this type of assistance.
Rental Assistance
Rental assistance grants are provided to homeowners and renters to temporarily rent another place while repairs are made to their home or while they are looking for another place to live. Applicants' damaged homes must be inspected to determine if they are eligible for rental assistance grants. Rental assistance grants may be used to pay for renting an apartment or house, or for staying in a hotel or motel. In areas where no housing is available to rent, alternative forms of housing, such as travel trailers or mobile homes, may be provided.
Direct Housing
The state and FEMA are currently working to identify as many travel trailers and mobile homes as possible to meet the need for direct housing assistance. FEMA will purchase such resources as they become available. Housing strike teams comprised of local, state and federal officials will work together to put these resources to use as quickly as possible. The US Army Corps of Engineers is already identifying suitable sites for mobile homes and travel trailers. Three contractors are set to begin installation as applicants qualify and sites are selected. The approximate turnaround for installation is 48 hours.
Repair Grants
Underinsured disaster victims may be eligible for grants to cover labor and material costs for home repairs to make the home safe to live in. Typical types of repairs covered include: roof, electrical system and windows and doors. Repair grants may not exceed $5,400. FEMA assistance covers minimal repairs and will not normally cover all storm-related damages. Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are the source of funding for repairs to restore victims' houses to pre-disaster condition. If an SBA loan application is included in the information an applicant receives from FEMA, it should be returned even if you do not want a loan. Not returning the SBA application may keep you from being referred to other forms of assistance.
Tarps
Tarps, or plastic sheeting provided by Joint Wilma Command for homeowners to cover damaged roofs may be available and issued through local governments and volunteer agencies. Residents need to monitor the media or call the local emergency management office for information on where to pick up the tarps. Residents may also purchase tarps at local hardware stores.Operation Blue Roof
In addition to Rental and Direct Housing assistance, FEMA has mission assigned the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to activate Operation Blue Roof in the thirteen counties declared eligible for Individual Assistance as a result of Wilma. Operation Blue Roof provides blue plastic sheeting to cover roofs on eligible homes damaged by Hurricane Wilma at no cost to the homeowner. Corps contractors install the sheeting using strips of wood that are secured to the roof with nails or screws. Important information about Operation Blue Roof:
- To qualify for Operation Blue Roof services, damage to the roof must be less than 50 percent and the area to be covered must be structurally sound for a crew to work on.
- Based on the experience following last year's hurricanes, the Corps has determined that Operation Blue Roof is not suitable for tile, flat, or metal roofs.
- In order to have plastic sheeting placed on their roofs, homeowners must complete a right of entry form to allow government and contractor employees on their property. The forms may be completed at Right of Entry (ROE) centers for affected counties that manned by Corps of Engineers employees.
- To learn more about Operation Blue Roof, ROE center locations, and whether they are eligible, those whose homes are damaged as a result of Hurricane Wilma should call 1-888-ROOF-BLU.
OTHER NEEDS ASSISTANCE grants are provided to cover necessary expenses and serious needs caused by the disaster. These grants help homeowners and renters with serious needs and necessary expenses caused by the disaster. Save receipts for expenses you think may be eligible and show them to the inspector when he or she visits you to assess damage. Grants may help reimburse citizens for:
- Disaster-related medical and dental costs
- Household items and clothing
- School supplies and tools required for the applicant's job
- Items used by the applicant to get back into a damaged home that were purchased between Oct. 19 and Nov. 18, such as:
- Generators (providing applicants live in a county declared eligible for Individual Assistance, their home lost power as a result of Hurricane Wilma, they purchased the generator either in preparation for Wilma or while power was out, and they have a receipt)
- Chainsaw (providing the applicant can document problems accessing the home)
- Other items for which eligible applicants may be reimbursed include:
- Wet/dry vac
- Air purifier
- Dehumidifier
For more information, those impacted by Hurricane Wilma should refer to the "Help After a Disaster" brochure included in the FEMA application package.
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 impacts. 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 more information visit www.fema.gov .
Last Modified: Friday, 04-Nov-2005 14:08:50