FEMA
Florida residents and homeowners impacted by Hurricane Ian can apply for FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) assistance to help cover temporary housing, basic home repairs, or other disaster-related needs not covered by insurance. Polk and Seminole counties are now eligible for FEMA assistance after Hurricane Ian.
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A federal disaster declaration that now includes 13 Florida counties is creating an opportunity for residents impacted by Hurricane Ian's catastrophic impacts to receive financial help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The following counties are eligible:
- Charlotte
- Collier
- DeSoto
- Flagler
- Hardee
- Hillsborough
- Lee
- manatee
- Orange
- Osceola
- Pinellas
- Polk
- Putnam
- Sarasota
- Seminole County
- St. Johns
- Volusia
President Joe Biden said the federal government can provide up to $37,900 in additional assistance for home repairs beyond what one's insurance may cover and another $37,900 for lost property. Applicants, however should temper their expectations.
There are three ways to apply for disaster assistance: disasterassistance.gov, via FEMA mobile app, or by phone, 800-621-3362 (7 a.m. - 1 p.m.)
To register, you need to provide the following information:
- Social Security Number (SSN) OR the SSN of a minor child in the household who is a U.S. Citizen, Non-Citizen National or Qualified Alien
- Annual household income
- Contact information (phone number, mailing address, email address*, and damaged home address)
- Insurance information (coverage, insurance company name, etc.)
- Bank account information (if you are eligible to receive financial assistance, the money can be deposited in your account)
Potential applicants should contact their insurance companies first because FEMA will not pay for items that insurance covers.
Tracey said federal assistance for lost property will help pay to replace a car someone uses on a regular basis, but would not cover the cost of something like a vintage collectors car that may have been destroyed in someone's garage. Other essential items FEMA covers include items like stoves, furnaces, and refrigerators.
The first step, though, is to contact one's homeowners and/or flood insurance provider as FEMA does not duplicate insurance coverage. To complete an application, FEMA requires:
- Social security number
- Insurance policy numbers or agent's name
- Phone number where applicant can be reached
- Address of damaged property
- Address where an applicant is currently staying
For losses pertaining to businesses, there's federal assistance available in the form of low interest loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA), but Tracey said SBA loans can also help homeowners with repairing their home or buying a new one.
