FEMA Housing Update

Bay County officials have been working in earnest with FEMA and the state for weeks to bring more permanent housing to the area in an effort to help displaced victims of Hurricane Matthew. Today, FEMA told Bay County that approximately 2,500 trailers are being staged at the airport in Marianna, and the first deliveries are to begin by Nov. 18 to approved sites.

According to FEMA, some 53,935 families in Bay County have registered with FEMA, and of those, 912 have indicated a need for FEMA housing support. Of those, 883 families are currently staying in Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA), some are at the Arnold High School shelter, and some are staying with family and friends.

FEMA continues to look for commercial park pads in Bay County that are willing to do business with the government and will lease their pads for manufactured housing placement. So far, a total of 22 pads on two commercial park locations have been identified. Contracts with these locations are being finalized now, FEMA officials say.

FEMA continues to conduct private home feasibility determinations prior to placement of manufactured housing. So far, 12 private home locations have been approved for placement of a manufactured home.

Anticipated first delivery of FEMA manufactured housing into Bay County is Nov. 18, subject to commercial park availability and private site feasibility. Debris on park properties and private sites continues to be a challenge. FEMA will bring in contractors to do debris removal; however, until then Bay County is working with FEMA to remove debris from these properties.

Once the parks have been cleared of debris and park owners have leased FEMA their pads, initial delivery of manufactured housing units will be up to 25 units per day with an expected increase of up to 50 units per day.

According to FEMA, the process for delivery is that, once sites are determined for feasibility, a work order is generated and provided to the haul and install contractor. They have a turnaround time of three days.

FEMA will not place trailers in locations they deem unsafe: Evacuation Zones A, High Velocity Wind Zones, or Flood Zones.

Families living in FEMA housing do not pay monthly rent; however, utility costs (water, power, sewer) may be borne by the renter, depending on the individual agreement. The housing program lasts up to 18 months, with monthly program certification.

Dec. 10 is the deadline for individuals and households to apply for disaster assistance. 
Survivors can apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov, or by calling the disaster assistance helpline at 800-621-3362 (voice, 711 or VRS) or 800-462-7585 for TTY users.