Florida hurricane survivors may be eligible for disaster assistance under FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program (IHP). Eligible applicants may qualify for rental assistance, basic home repairs, personal property losses and other eligible expenses related to storm damage. Some of the requirements that must be met are that the address be your primary residence in one of the following 26 counties; you occupied the home before and during the storm and you incurred loss and expenses directly related to Hurricane Ian. The counties are 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.
Rental Assistance for Temporary Housing
If Hurricane Ian damaged your primary residence FEMA may be able to provide rent for a temporary place to live while you are displaced. Rental assistance is intended to cover monthly rent, security deposit, and cost of essential utilities such as electricity and water.
Lodging Expense Reimbursement
FEMA may provide lodging expenses reimbursement for you if:
- You incurred out-of-pocket temporary lodging expenses and
- You had damage to your home because of Hurricane Ian.
Major Repairs and Out-of-Pocket Expenses
FEMA’s Individuals and Household Program assistance is intended to help jumpstart your recovery. While we cannot restore your home to its pre-hurricane condition, we can help with the basic needs of the household. Here are some examples of basic needs:
- Home Repair Assistance may be provided to homeowners to repair the structural parts of your home. This includes windows, doors, floors, walls, ceilings, cabinets, heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system (HVAC), utilities (electrical, plumbing and gas systems), and entrance ways. FEMA may also reimburse for the actual cost to repair or replace your furnace, private well and septic system that was damaged or destroyed by the disaster.
- Other Needs Assistance financial assistance may be provided to homeowners and renters for eligible uninsured property or items your insurance doesn’t cover, such as:
- Medical and dental expenses; funeral and burial costs; replacement of household furniture and appliances; specialized tools you must have for your job; educational materials and moving, storage and other necessary expenses related to Hurricane Ian.
- Personally-owned, disaster-damaged cars and trucks in need of replacement or repairs.
- The purchase or rental expense of generators used at a primary residence to power medically required equipment necessary for an existing medical condition.
Apply to FEMA
If you were affected by Hurricane Ian, the application period remains open until January 12, 2023. You can apply to FEMA: apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov, download the FEMA App for mobile devices, or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Calls are accepted every day from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET. Help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA the number for that service. To view an accessible video about how to apply visit: Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance - YouTube.
You can also visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC). Nearly 30 are located throughout Florida’s disaster-damaged counties. To find a center close to you, go online to: DRC Locator or floridadisaster.org, or text DRC along with your zip code to 43362.
A DRC offers interpretation services and translated materials to help communicate in the language with which you feel most comfortable. The center locations are also chosen for their accessibility, with the goal of reaching as many people as possible. For an accessible video on how to apply for assistance go to, youtube.com/watch?v= WZGpWI2RCNw.
In addition to the centers, FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) teams are canvassing neighborhoods in areas affected by Hurricane Ian to provide assistance with a new or existing FEMA application. DSA teams wear FEMA attire and have federal photo identification badges. There is no charge for assistance.
For the latest information on Hurricane Ian recovery, visit floridadisaster.org/info fema.gov/disaster/4673. Follow FEMA on Twitter at FEMA Region 4 (@femaregion4) / Twitter and at facebook.com/fema.
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