FEMA Disaster Recovery Update
November 19th, 2019
- All Disaster Recovery Centers Will be Closed Thanksgiving
- What: All State-FEMA disaster recovery centers in Florida will be closed Thanksgiving Day
- Who: Florida disaster recovery centers provide guidance to survivors in recovering from Hurricane Michael.
- When: Thursday, Nov. 22, 2018
- Where: Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Leon, Liberty, Wakulla and Washington counties.
The Mobile DRC in Bay County will resume normal business hours on Friday, Nov. 23, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week.
All other centers will resume normal business hours on Friday, Nov. 23, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week.
- Free Rebuilding and Repair Advice Available in Suwannee
- TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – As Floridians repair or rebuild their homes damaged by Hurricane Michael, FEMA specialists will be in Suwannee county to provide free information and literature on making homes stronger and safer.
If you choose to attend this event, FEMA specialists will be on hand to answer questions and offer home-improvement guidance with proven methods to prevent or reduce damage from future disasters. Most of the information and the free publications are tailored for do-it-yourself work and general contractors. - Advisors will be available at the following location:
Suwannee County
2018 Old Tyme Farm Days
Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park
3076 95th Drive
Live Oak, FL 32060
Suwannee County - November 23 and 24 – 9am to 6pm EST
- TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – As Floridians repair or rebuild their homes damaged by Hurricane Michael, FEMA specialists will be in Suwannee county to provide free information and literature on making homes stronger and safer.
- Find more information about strengthening property at fema.gov/protect-your-property.
FEMA specialists can provide general guidance regarding flood-insurance policies and offer technical assistance to aid in recovery. A complete list of home-improvement stores hosting FEMA mitigation specialists and their hours is available at fema.gov/disaster/4399.
- S. Corps of Engineers’ Operation Blue Roof Program
- PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is continuing to install tarps for survivors whose home roofs were damaged in Hurricane Michael.
- Even though the USACE is no longer accepting requests, it is still making repairs for survivors who applied for Blue Roof assistance before the Nov. 16 deadline.
- To check on the status of a Blue Roof request, call 888-ROOF-BLU (888-766-3258).
- Those who sustained losses from Hurricane Michael and have not yet registered for disaster assistance may do so at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362 between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. local time seven days a week.
- To date, more than 6,000 roofs have been installed.
- USACE is warning homeowners of fraudsters who may be representing themselves as Operation Blue Roof representatives.
Signs of fraud may include:
- PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is continuing to install tarps for survivors whose home roofs were damaged in Hurricane Michael.
- No USACE quality assurance assessment.
- No USACE contractor with a valid work order.
- Asking for payment. (The program is free of charge.)
- Soliciting by paper applications.
Homeowners who may suspect they are being scammed should contact the Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 (TTY 844-889-4357), USACE at 888-766-3258 or local law enforcement.
- The Emergency Prescription Assistance Program (EPAP) for survivors who do not have health insurance has been extended to Dec 15. EPAP covers prescription drugs, vaccines and other medical supplies damaged in the hurricane. A list of more than 72,000 participating pharmacies where claims can be filled is available at the HHS website
- The application deadline for Disaster Unemployment Assistance is Friday, 7. DUA is available to Florida residents and businesses in Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Leon, Liberty, Taylor, Wakulla and Washington counties. DUA is available for unemployment beginning October 14, 2018 until April 13, 2019, as long as the individual’s unemployment continues to be a result of the disaster. Find more information about application criteria at www.floridajobs.org.
Stay in Touch with FEMA
- Contact FEMA if you have any updates or changes to your application for disaster assistance, including access to your primary home, utility service, and current location.
- Visit DisasterAssistance.gov or call the FEMA Helpline 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585) to update your application.
Don’t wait to clean up and make repairs to your flood-damaged home
- Take photos or videos of all damage before you start cleaning or repairing your property and save your receipts for any clean up or repairs. An inspector will contact you to arrange an inspection. Inspections are free.
Temporary Housing
- FEMA contractors have begun placing the first travel trailers on private sites. Direct housing is temporary. These units are not permanent dwellings. FEMA staff will meet with survivors regularly to determine their continued eligibility and demonstrated needs and assist them in developing a permanent housing plan.
- The state-led Florida Housing Task Force surveyed available rental resources in the hurricane-impacted counties and found rental housing resources were insufficient to meet the high demand for housing in Bay, Calhoun, Gadsden, Gulf and Jackson counties.
- On Oct. 28, FEMA authorized the Direct Temporary Housing Assistance Program for these counties.
- Direct Temporary Housing Assistance is available to eligible applicants whose primary residence is uninhabitable if FEMA determines that eligible applicants cannot use financial Rental Assistance due to a lack of available housing resources in the area.
- Direct housing is just one form of temporary housing assistance being provided by the state and federal agencies. Many survivors have received grants for basic repairs and rental assistance, and temporary roofs provided by the Corps of Engineers.
- Obtaining a travel trailer or manufactured housing unit is not an automatic process. Eligibility must be determined after survivors apply for assistance and according to guidelines developed and approved by the state of Florida and FEMA.
- Additional phone interviews are being conducted to determine applicants who are identified and qualified for direct housing assistance.
- As individual eligibility for direct temporary housing is determined, sites to place the units are inspected to assess feasibility for placement.
- Installation of a temporary housing unit includes:
- Site preparation
- Placement of the unit
- Anchoring of the unit
- Utilities hookup
- Compliance with local permitting and completion of final inspection
- Once installation of the unit is complete, an occupancy inspection will take place. When the unit passes inspection, it is ready for occupancy. At that point, the applicant will sign a license-in agreement to occupy the unit while they work on their permanent housing plan.
- Direct housing is temporary. These units are not permanent dwellings. FEMA staff will meet with survivors regularly to determine their continued eligibility and demonstrated needs and assist them in developing a permanent housing plan.
- To remain eligible, survivors must demonstrate continuing progress on a permanent housing plan. FEMA staff will keep survivors up to date on program details and deadlines through face-to-face meetings, phone calls and letters.
FEMA Individuals and Assistance Programs
Eligible Counties
- Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Leon, Liberty, Taylor, Wakulla and Washington
Individuals & Households
- More than 97,000 families and individuals have contacted FEMA for help and information.
- More than $107.9 million in FEMA grants approved, including more than $88.7 million in housing assistance, and nearly $19.2 million of Other Needs Assistance.
- 64,086 Housing inspections have been completed
Rental Assistance
- 17,943 homeowners and renters approved for rental assistance.
- FEMA is working closely with the state to provide other forms of temporary housing.
Transitional Sheltering Assistance
- TSA is approved for Bay, Gulf and Jackson counties
- Find a list of TSA-approved hotels on DisasterAssistance.gov or contacting the FEMA Helpline 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585). or visit a Disaster Recovery Center. Contact the hotel directly to secure a room.
- 767 survivor households currently checked into hotels
Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA)
- DSA crews continue to reach out to survivors in storm-damaged communities. Crew members answer questions, register survivors and make referrals to whole community partners.
- All FEMA employees and contractors carry an official government or contractor badge to identify themselves. To guard against fraud, survivors should ask to see a badge.
- To date, the crews have conducted more than 1,300 visits to communities and more than 970 businesses, more than 55,000 home visits and have made over 20,000 referrals to whole community partners.
National Flood Insurance Program
- More than 4,000 claims received; paid more than $68.8 million: More than 58% of claims closed.
Federal Partners
Small Business Administration (SBA)
- SBA has approved $244.4 million in disaster loans, including more than $223.7 million to homeowners and renters, and more than $20.7 million to businesses.
- Survivors should complete the low-interest, long-term disaster loan application from the SBA if offered. If you do not qualify for a loan, you may be referred back to FEMA for grants to meet unmet needs. SBA offers loans to businesses of all sizes (including landlords), private nonprofits, homeowners and renters.
- To apply for an SBA loan call: 800-659-2955, online at: disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/ or in person at a disaster recovery center.
- Visit fema.gov/DRC for a list of open centers.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
- Registration for the Blue Roof program ended on Nov. 16th
- More than 6,800 Blue Roofs have been installed.
FEMA/STATE Disaster Recovery Centers
- Today 13 fixed-site DRCs, four Mobile DRC and three Mobile Registration Intake Centers are open. All DRC’s are open Mon. to Sun. 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted
- Visit: FEMA.gov/DRC or download the FEMA App to locate open disaster recovery centers in your area.
| County | Location |
|
Bay
|
Bay County Public Library 898 West 11th Street, Panama City, FL 32401 |
|
Bay
|
John B. Gore Park |
| Calhoun |
Blountstown Public Library 17731 NE Pear St. Blountstown, FL 32424 |
| Franklin |
Carrabelle Public Library 311 Saint James Avenue Carrabelle, FL 32322 |
|
Gadsden
|
Old Gretna Elementary School 706 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Gretna, FL 32332 |
|
Gulf
|
Port Saint Joe Library 110 Library Drive, Port Saint Joe, FL 32456 |
|
Gulf
|
Wewahitchka Branch Library 314 N. 2nd St. Wewahitchka, FL 32465 |
|
Holmes
|
Holmes County Agricultural Center 1173 E Hwy 90, Bonifay, FL 32425 |
|
Jackson
|
University Extension Office 2741 Penn Avenue, Marianna, FL 32448 |
|
Leon
|
LeRoy Collins Main Library 200 W. Park Avenue, Tallahassee, FL 32301 |
|
Liberty
|
Veterans Memorial Park 10405 NW Theo Jacobs Way, Bristol, FL 32321 |
|
Wakulla
|
Community One Stop 318 Shadeville Hwy., Crawfordville, FL 32327 |
|
Washington
|
Washington County AG Center 1424 W. Jackson Avenue, Chipley, FL 32428 |
Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers
- Four Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers are open today.
| County | Address | Dates |
| Bay |
Youngstown-Fountain Recreation Complex 12421 Hwy 20, Fountain, FL 32438 |
Mon., Nov. 12 to Wed., Nov. 21 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Calhoun |
Kinard Volunteer Fire Department 5382 SR 73, Kinard, FL 32449 Closes tonight at 7 p.m. |
Fri., Nov. 16 to Mon., Nov. 19 |
| Franklin |
Franklin County Tourist Development 731 US Hwy 98, East Point, FL 32328 |
Mon., Nov 19 to Wed. Nov. 21 |
| Jackson |
Graceville 5204 County Rd 77, Graceville, FL 32440 |
Sun., Nov. 18 to Weds., Nov. 21. |
Mobile Registration Intake Centers
- There are three Mobile Registration Intake Centers.
- For locations, visit www.floridadisaster.org/info/#mrics.
| County | Address |
| Bay |
Lynn Haven City Hall |
| Bay |
Mexico Beach City Hall |
| Bay |
Parking Lot |
Disaster Fraud Hotline
- If you have been defrauded or suspect fraud, waste, abuse or mismanagement of disaster relief operations, call the Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 (TTY 1-844-889-4357).
Your call is anonymous and confidential
FEMA Rumor Page
