KEY MESSAGES
After flooding, local officials inspect homes damaged by flood waters to determine whether a structure was damaged to the extent that it will have to meet current codes when it is repaired. A determination of “substantial damage” applies to a severely damaged home or other structure in a Special Flood Hazard Area, or flood zone, where the community participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
These determinations are made by communities. FEMA does not make substantial damage determinations.
How to check status of your FEMA application
Survivors in Bay, Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties who registered with FEMA can check the status of their applications, ask questions and get information in several ways:
- By visiting DisasterAssistance.gov
- Using the FEMA App for smartphones
- Calling 800-621-3362 (800-462-7585 TTY). Multilingual operators are available. Those who use a relay service such as a videophone, InnoCaption or CapTel should provide FEMA with their specific phone number assigned to that service.
By the numbers (12/9/2020)
- 7,602 individuals and households approved for $31 million in FEMA assistance, including:
- $24.1 million approved for housing assistance
- $6.9 million approved for other disaster-related needs
- 13,904 home inspections completed
- $71.1 million in SBA loans approved for 1,820 applicants
- 4,469 claims filed with the National Flood Insurance Program in Bay, Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties; $119.1 million paid
DisasterAssistance.gov
Individuals and households that have registered with FEMA may check the status of their application and upload documents on DisasterAssistance.gov.
FEMA Public Assistance (PA)
Under the major disaster declaration, FEMA is authorized to provide Public Assistance for debris removal, emergency measures and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged public facilities such as roads and bridges, water control facilities, buildings and equipment, utilities and parks for the following counties:
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Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton and Washington.
For guidance on debris removal processes, residents should contact their local government.
Resources
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Florida 211: The call goes to local helpline call centers that have counselors for disaster recovery and can provide information on access to local resources such as housing, food and health care. Dial: 211
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Florida Division of Consumer Services provides information for residents with insurance questions: https://www.myfloridacfo.com/division/consumers/HurricaneSally.htm
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Florida Department of Businesses and Professional Regulation (DBPR) offers tips for hurricane recovery at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/documents/HurricaneGuide_web.pdf
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DBPR tips for avoiding unlicensed contractors following a storm: http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/unlicensed-activity/dbpr-hurricane-guide/
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Disaster Legal Services provides free legal help to low-income Hurricane Sally survivors with disaster-related legal needs. Call 866-550-2929.
For more information about Hurricane Sally recovery in Florida, visit the FEMA disaster webpage at https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4564 or the Florida Division of Emergency Management webpage at https://www.floridadisaster.org/info/Sally.
Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. Civil rights complaints in connection with FEMA-funded activities may be submitted by mail to FEMA Office of Equal Rights, C Street SW, Room 4SW-0915, Washington, DC 20472-3505, by email to FEMA-CivilRightsOffice@fema.dhs.gov, or by calling 833-285-7448 (TTY 800-462-7585).