WASHINGTON -- Hundreds of FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams continue going door-to-door to help survivors with their unique needs, and to date, FEMA has awarded over $150 million in assistance to survivors.
FEMA also continues to open more Disaster Recovery Centers across the impacted areas, with additional centers opening today in Collier and Charlotte counties. There are now a total of five Disaster Recovery Centers being operated in Lee, Sarasota, Collier and Charlotte counties, and more are planned to open over the next few days.
Additionally, FEMA and the state of Florida have recently activated the Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program, providing eligible survivors who have applied for disaster assistance with TSA to shelter in a hotel or motel paid for by FEMA.
Meanwhile, our federal partners continue to support the whole-of-government effort to help Floridians recover. In particular, today the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) began its first installation project as a part of Operation Blue Roof, providing impacted survivors in eligible counties with temporary roof repair. USACE has been tasked by FEMA to assist eligible homeowners with temporary roof repairs. More information about Operation Blue Roof can be found here.
FT. MYERS, Fla. -- A FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance team member provides registration services for Hurricane Ian survivors at the Disaster Resource Center located at the Lakes Regional Library. (FEMA Photo by Lameen Witter)
FT. MYERS, Fla. -- A FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance team member provides registration services for Hurricane Ian survivors at the Disaster Resource Center located at the Lakes Regional Library. (FEMA Photo by Lameen Witter)
FT. MYERS, Fla. -- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers install coverings on roofs, as part of the Operation Blue Roof program, to assist Hurricane Ian survivors. Operation Blue Roof is a priority mission that provides homeowners in disaster areas with fiber-reinforced sheeting to cover their damaged roofs until arrangements can be made for permanent repairs. (FEMA Photo by Lameen Witter)
FT. MYERS, Fla. -- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers install coverings on roofs, as part of the Operation Blue Roof program, to assist Hurricane Ian survivors. Operation Blue Roof is a priority mission that provides homeowners in disaster areas with fiber-reinforced sheeting to cover their damaged roofs until arrangements can be made for permanent repairs. (FEMA Photo by Lameen Witter)
20 Counties Eligible for Individual Assistance
President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. has declared that survivors in 20 Florida counties are eligible for Individual Assistance to help their recovery.
DSA teams travel door-to-door and to public locations in communities where survivors are located, such as shelters, food and water distribution sites and open grocery stores, providing additional information on how to access and apply for disaster assistance. They can also help survivors who may face barriers accessing assistance programs and resources to support their recovery.
Survivors should know that DSA staff typically wear FEMA attire, will always have FEMA photo identification and will never charge for assistance.
DSA specialists can help with:
- Submitting applications for federal assistance.
- Checking the status of an application already in the system or making minor changes to their applications.
- Providing civil rights and disability integration information to survivors who have difficulty accessing the application process in order to ensure equal access to FEMA programs.
Also, there are several Mobile Registration Intake Centers (MRICs) in the area. These locations will have DSA teams onsite assisting with applications, inquiries, updates and referrals.
Residents in the designated counties can also visit a Disaster Recovery Center or apply online at disasterassistance.gov, by calling 800-621-3362 or using the FEMA mobile app.
For an accessible video on how to apply for assistance, go to FEMA Accessible: How to Register with Disaster Survivor Assistance - YouTube.
For the latest on Hurricane Ian recovery in Florida, visit fema.gov/disaster/4673 and floridadisaster.org/. Follow us on Twitter: @FLSERT and @FEMARegion4.