FEMA disaster assistance teams begin outreach to neighborhoods impacted by Hurricane Ian

Dave Berman and Malcolm Denemark, Florida Today
·5 min read
3

The Federal Emergency Management Agency this week deployed a special team to canvass Brevard County neighborhoods impacted by Hurricane Ian.

FEMA's Disaster Survivor Assistance Team started its work Tuesday on Merritt Island, informing residents about available aid and helping them fill out applications for assistance.

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

County damage estimates: Beaches hard-hit as Brevard County reports millions of dollars overall in Hurricane Ian costs

Separately, FEMA plans to open a disaster recovery center in Brevard County, possibly within a week, according to FEMA spokesperson Jann Tracey.

Federal Emergency Management Agency workers talk with Wes Wolfe, whose Merritt Island property had some flooding because of Hurricane Ian. FEMA workers who are members of the Disaster Survivor Assistance Team were out Tuesday canvassing neighborhoods off of Newfound Harbor Drive on Merritt Island, talking with residents in areas that flooded.
Federal Emergency Management Agency workers talk with Wes Wolfe, whose Merritt Island property had some flooding because of Hurricane Ian. FEMA workers who are members of the Disaster Survivor Assistance Team were out Tuesday canvassing neighborhoods off of Newfound Harbor Drive on Merritt Island, talking with residents in areas that flooded.

Members of FEMA's Disaster Survivor Assistance Team will knock on doors in communities hardest hit by Hurricane Ian, checking in with residents who may be in need of individual assistance through FEMA.

Virginia Poole, who lives on Worley Avenue on Merritt Island, said she was happy to see the FEMA team out in her neighborhood.

"It's a good thing. it's needed," Poole said. "I don't need help; I just lost a papaya tree. But my neighbors might need them."

Out of Florida's 67 counties, residents of Brevard and 25 other counties qualify for FEMA individual assistance related to Hurricane Ian.

Tracey said the Disaster Survivor Assistance Team will visit residents of a total of 6,866 Brevard homes and apartments in areas hardest hit by Ian.

Eight team members were in Merritt Island neighborhoods on Tuesday. These neighborhoods were among a number of areas throughout the county that experienced flooding from Ian, which passed through Brevard County on Sept. 29 as a tropical storm.

Members of a Federal Emergency Management Agency Disaster Survivor Assistance Team confer while canvassing neighborhoods off of Newfound Harbor Drive on Merritt Island on their post-Hurricane Ian assignment.
Members of a Federal Emergency Management Agency Disaster Survivor Assistance Team confer while canvassing neighborhoods off of Newfound Harbor Drive on Merritt Island on their post-Hurricane Ian assignment.

As the team is expanded in the coming days, it will branch out into other areas of the county that experienced flooding and other damages from Ian.

While the storm's impact was widespread, areas hardest hit other than Merritt Island include Barefoot Bay, Mims, Palm Bay, Port St. John, Scottsmoor, Titusville and West Melbourne.

Homeowners and renters in Brevard who had uninsured losses from Hurricane Ian may be eligible for federal disaster assistance.

Federal Emergency Management Agency Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members canvass neighborhoods off of Newfound Harbor Drive on Merritt Island.
Federal Emergency Management Agency Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members canvass neighborhoods off of Newfound Harbor Drive on Merritt Island.

FEMA can provide financial help with temporary housing expenses, basic home repairs and other essential disaster-related needs.

There are several ways to apply, including:

  • Online at https://www.disasterassistance.gov/

  • Downloading the FEMA App for mobile devices.

  • Calling toll-free 800-621-3362. The line is open every day from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The FEMA team will be equipped to:

  • Provide residents with information on FEMA disaster assistance.

  • Provide guidance on the application process.

  • Provide basic information about application status and other eligible assistance.

  • Collect new information or documents for case files.

Tracey said, as of Wednesday, 4,945 Brevard residents have registered for FEMA individual assistance, and $980,933 in grants have been approved.

FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members will be identifiable by blue shirts, blue vests or both. They will operate between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Merritt Island resident Wes Wolfe said he got a bit startled to see three people in dark-blue vest knocking on his door on Angel Avenue.

"I wasn't expecting it," Wolfe said. "I saw the vests, and thought they had the wrong house."

Wolfe's property had some flooding, but his house wasn't damaged.

People impacted by Ian who have homeowners, renters or flood insurance should file an insurance claim as soon as possible.

Tracey said FEMA cannot duplicate benefits for losses covered by insurance, and does not cover the insurance deductibles.

Tracey said individuals cannot make appointments for a visit from the Disaster Survivor Assistance Team.

If the team comes to a property, and no one is home, team members will leave written information about the assistance programs that are available.

Disaster recovery centers

Residents also will be able to speak with a FEMA representative in person when a disaster recovery center opens in Brevard.

They also can go to one of the centers in nearby counties that already are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily:

  • Orange County: Barnett Park, 4801 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando.

  • Osceola County: Hart Memorial Central Library, 211 E. Dakin Ave., Kissimmee.

  • Seminole County: Seminole State College Automotive Center, 100 Welden Blvd., Sanford.

  • Volusia County: Volusia Health Department, 1845 Holsonback Drive, Daytona Beach.

Tracey said FEMA disaster recovery centers typically are open for at least one month.

Residents can go to the centers not only to apply for assistance, but also to check on the status of their request or ask general questions about FEMA aid.

People staffing the centers also typically can help with directing residents to resources for food, counseling and Small Business Administration help.

The 26 Florida counties eligible for FEMA Individual assistance are Brevard, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns and Volusia.

Brevard was approved for individual assistance on Oct. 11.

Statewide, there have been 207,408 applications for individual assistance approved, with more than $477 million in assistance approved.

Tracey cautions members of the public to be aware of scammers, including those posing as FEMA staff.

She said the public should know that FEMA never asks for money; FEMA teams wear government identification; and their identity can be verified by calling 1-800-621-FEMA.

Critical needs assistance

Separately, FEMA on Wednesday extended the deadline to Oct. 29 for applicants seeking special "critical needs" assistance of $700 per household.

The deadline was extended at the request of Florida officials because people in many communities in the state remain displaced from their homes. They continue to find it difficult to have access to food, water, medical supplies and other necessities.

Tracey said FEMA can provide financial assistance under the "other needs assistance" provision of its individuals and households program to applicants who have immediate or critical needs because they are displaced from their primary residence or who need assistance in order to leave their pre-disaster primary residence to temporarily shelter elsewhere.

FEMA classifies immediate or critical needs as life-saving and life-sustaining items, including but not limited to water, food, first aid, prescriptions, infant formula, diapers, consumable medical supplies, durable medical equipment, personal hygiene items  and fuel for transportation.

Applicants for individual disaster assistance can apply for a critical needs aid at the same time.

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

Support local journalism and journalists like me. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Hurricane Ian aid: FEMA teams begin outreach to Brevard neighborhoods