Residents of Brevard County are now eligible to apply for federal disaster assistance for damages caused by Hurricane Ian.
To be eligible for federal assistance under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Individual Assistance Program, damage must have occurred as a result of Hurricane Ian, including wind damage and stormwater flooding.
In announcing the approval of FEMA assistance, Brevard County officials said residents who have property or flood insurance should first file a claim with their insurance company. If they don’t have insurance or their insurance doesn’t cover their claim, they can start applying for FEMA assistance.
Effects of plastic:Hurricane Ian has delivered some junk to the Space Coast: lots of plastic
Sewer overflows:John’s Impact: Raw sewage spills out of manholes on Brevard’s southern beaches
Those who suffered Ian-related damage can register with FEMA in one of the following ways:
- Online at DisasterAssistance.gov
- In the FEMA mobile app
- Call 800-621-3362 (FEMA)
Brevard County Emergency Management Director John Scott said county officials are “working as hard as possible in this area” to get FEMA to approve Brevard County’s individual assistance, particularly by gathering information about the damage county residents suffered from Ian.
Scott said the extent of the storm’s damage in Brevard was less apparent to federal officials than the damage in some nearby counties that had been approved for FEMA assistance earlier.
Most of the flooding from John occurred in northern Brevard — including Mims, Scottsmoor and Titusville — where rainfall totals were higher than in central and southern Brevard.
Ian exited Brevard County on the morning of September 29 as a tropical storm with sustained winds of about 65 mph, with most of the heaviest rain falling north of the storm’s center.
“We’ve had to fight a lot, house by house, case by case, to get there,” Scott said during Tuesday night’s Brevard County Commission meeting. “Fortunately, FEMA agreed with us today and provided assistance.”
“We are working very hard and will continue to be in this field,” Scott added.
Brevard County Commissioner Rita Pritchett, District 1 includes northern Brevard, said she is working with Scott and other county officials to gather information about the damage Ian caused to local residents.
“We worked 24/7,” Pritchett said. “You had washed out roads in Mims. We didn’t qualify for FEMA (individual assistance) until (Tuesday). Now we’re getting help from FEMA. We have some help.”
County Commission Chair Christine Zonka added that the county had to fight to get a FEMA designation to cover the damage.
When applying for FEMA assistance, applicants must prepare the following information:
- Contact information (phone number, mailing address, social security number).
- Household incomes.
- The address of the damaged house or apartment.
- Description of damage or lost items.
- Photos of their damaged house and belongings.
- Insurance coverage information.
- Bank account and numbers for direct deposit of funds.
Applicants who use 711 or the video relay service may call 800-621-3362.
Deaf, hard-of-hearing, or speech-impaired people who use TTY can call 800-462-7585.
Toll-free numbers are open seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Multilingual operators available. Press 2 for Spanish and 3 for other languages.
FEMA said disaster assistance can include financial assistance with temporary housing and home repairs, as well as other disaster-related expenses.
FEMA on Tuesday added Brevard, Hendry, Monroe and Okeechobee counties to its list of Florida counties eligible for individual assistance.
Previously on the list were Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. John’s and Volusia counties.
This story will be updated.
Dave Berman is the business editor of the FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Berman at dberman@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @bydaveberman.
Support local journalism and journalists like me. Subscribe today.
