Biden orders federal aid for Hurricane Debby damage in Florida: What to know, number to call

Jennifer Sangalang, USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida
Updated ·2 min read
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Days after Debby's first landfall as a hurricane in Florida, President Biden declared that a major disaster exists and ordered federal aid to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in areas affected by the storm.

Debby made landfall as a hurricane in Steinhatchee, Florida, about 7 a.m. Monday, Aug. 5. Sustained winds were 80 mph. The tropical system later downgraded to Tropical Storm Debby, but made its second landfall just before 2 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, near Bulls Bay, South Carolina. Sustained winds for Tropical Storm Debby were 50 mph.

The storm brought historic rainfall from Florida to the Carolinas.

According to a press release from this weekend, the president’s action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in these areas:

  • Columbia County, Florida

  • Dixie County, Florida

  • Gilchrist County, Florida

  • Hamilton County, Florida

  • Lafayette County, Florida

  • Levy County, Florida

  • Manatee County, Florida

  • Sarasota County, Florida

  • Suwannee County, Florida

  • Taylor County, Florida

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from Hurricane Debby's effects, the release states.

Federal funding also is available to state, tribal and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work in these areas:

  • Columbia County, Florida

  • Dixie County, Florida

  • Gilchrist County, Florida

  • Hamilton County, Florida

  • Lafayette County, Florida

  • Levy County, Florida

  • Madison County, Florida

  • Manatee County, Florida

  • Sarasota County, Florida

  • Suwannee County, Florida

  • Taylor County, Florida

Federal funding also is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide, a White House news release states.

Biden's order for federal aid for Hurricane Debby damage in Florida coincides with warnings from the National Hurricane Center in Miami, which is tracking a tropical wave that has a high formation for development. At 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11, the system formed to become Potential Tropical Cyclone Five, according to the hurricane center.

Potential Tropical Cyclone Five was forecast to become a tropical storm Monday, Aug. 12. The next named storm will be Ernesto.

Residents and business owners who sustained losses from Hurricane Debby in the designated areas can apply for assistance at disasterassistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA (800-621-3362), or by using the FEMA app. Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service.

Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Florida residents, business owners can apply for Hurricane Debby help