Brevard residents with Hurricane Ian damage can apply for assistance through FEMA

Brevard County residents now are eligible to apply for federal disaster assistance for losses resulting from Hurricane Ian.

To be eligible for federal aid under the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Individual Assistance Program, the damage must have occurred as a result of Hurricane Ian, including wind damage and flooding from the storm.

In announcing the approval for FEMA aid, Brevard County officials said residents who have property or flood insurance must first file a claim with their insurance company. If they do not have insurance, or their insurance does not cover their claim, they can begin applying for FEMA assistance.

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Brevard County Communications Director Don Walker said the county has received more than 700 reports from residents of Ian-related damage in communities throughout Brevard. He said the county has not yet compiled an estimate of total monetary damage from the storm.

Walker said, by the end of Wednesday, FEMA already had received 1,714 individual assistance requests from Brevard County residents.

Those who suffered Ian-related damages can register with FEMA through one of these methods:

How to register for FEMA assistance

• Online at DisasterAssistance.gov

• On the FEMA Mobile App

• By calling 800-621-3362 (FEMA)

Brevard County Emergency Management Director John Scott said county officials have been "working this area as hard as we can" to get FEMA to approve Brevard County for individual assistance aid, in part by gathering information on damage that county residents sustained from Ian.

Scott said the extent of the storm damage in Brevard wasn't as obvious to federal officials as the damage was in some nearby counties that received approval for the FEMA aid sooner.

Where the flooding happened in Brevard

Much of the flooding from Ian occurred in northern Brevard — including Mims, Scottsmoor and Titusville — where rainfall totals generally were higher than in central and southern Brevard.

Ian exited Brevard County the morning of Sept. 29 as a tropical storm with sustained winds of about 65 mph, and most of the heaviest rain was north of the center of the storm.

"We've had to very much fight, house by house, case by case, to get there," and receive the FEMA approval for aid, Scott said during Tuesday evening's Brevard County Commission meeting. "Fortunately, FEMA agreed with us today, and provided that assistance."

"We are working very hard, and we will continue to be in that area," Scott added.

Brevard County Commissioner Rita Pritchett — whose District 1 includes north Brevard — said she is working with Scott and others in county staff to gather the information on damage Ian has caused to local residents.

"We have been working this 24/7," Pritchett said. "You've had roads wash out in Mims. We did not qualify for FEMA (individual assistance) until just (Tuesday). We're getting FEMA help now. We do have some help coming in."

County Commission Chair Kristine Zonka added that the county had to fight to get the FEMA designation to help cover the damages.

Titusville resident Namor Thomas came before the County Commission on Tuesday to plead for help for the storm-damaged areas of north Brevard.

"We've been the forgotten people during this hurricane," Thomas said, in describing the flooding in areas of north Brevard. "We've been suffering. You know, we need help, too. We are people, too. We do vote, and we need help. H-E-L-P. Help."

Walker said the northwest portion of the county, including Mims and Scottsmoor, especially near the St Johns River, continues to be the focus of recovery efforts for residents, as they were the most impacted. He said the county is continuing to follow up on every report of damage, as well as having staff drive streets in those areas.

On Monday, a FEMA/state damage assessment team was in the area, physically evaluating those areas where the most impacts have occurred.

Applicants for FEMA assistance should have the following information ready when they apply:

• Contact information (telephone number, mailing address, Social Security number).

• Household income.

• Address of damaged home or apartment.

• Description of damage or lost items.

• Photos of their damaged home and belongings.

• Information about insurance coverage.

• Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of funds.

Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service can call 800-621-3362.

People who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY can call 800-462-7585.

The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week.

Multilingual operators are available. Press 2 for Spanish, and press 3 for other languages.

FEMA said disaster assistance can include financial help with temporary lodging 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. Johns and Volusia counties.

FEMA said, overall, as of Tuesday, more than $210 million in federal disaster assistance has been approved for more than 128,000 individuals and households impacted by Hurricane Ian.

The county also is  working with volunteer groups to push resources into the Scottsmoor/Mims area. For example, Red Cross and Salvation Army have been working to get flooding cleanup supplies and other basic supplies for distribution.

Small-business loan assistance

Separately, Brevard County has been added to the list of counties eligible for the Florida's Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program

The program provides short-term, zero-interest working capital loans that are intended to “bridge the gap” between the time a disaster impacts a business and when a business has secured longer-term recovery funding, such as federally or commercially available loans, insurance claims or other resources.

Loans are available up to $50,000 per eligible applicant.

For more information and to apply, business owners can go to: https://deosera.force.com/RebuildFloridaBusinessLoanFund/s/loan-programs?program=emergency-bridge-loan.

Permit fee waiver approved

On Tuesday, county commissioners unanimously approved a 90-day waiver of permit fees for certain building permits related to the repair of storm damage caused by Hurricane Ian.

Affected permits are for roof repair/replacement, fencing, air-conditioning equipment repair, screen/pool enclosure repair, repair of carports, drywall repair and the repair of damaged mobile homes.

In his report to commissioners, Brevard County Planning and Development Director Tad Calkins said: "This request is made to help our citizens through the storm recovery process by lessening the financial impact in making hurricane damage repair work."

The county enacted a similar 90-day permit fee waiver following Hurricane Irma in 2017.

Based on the impact from that waiver granted, county staff estimates the impact of this waiver to be $430,000.

Pritchett said she appreciated Calkins' department proactively seeking to help residents with storm damage in this way.

Dave Berman is business editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Berman at dberman@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @bydaveberman.

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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Brevard residents can apply for Hurricane Ian assistance through FEMA