Latest news with #FDEM
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Yahoo
FEMA extends temporary housing deadline for some storm survivors
ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. (WFLA) — Hurricane victims have more time to figure out a permanent living situation. FEMA extended the deadline homeowners to move out of temporary housing, Wednesday. The Plaza Beach Hotel is Andrea Simhony's current home. Her condo in St. Pete Beach is filled with bare sheets of drywall, paint cans, and unfinished floors as she deals with damage from last year's hurricanes. See what happens when hawks attack outside Sarasota business 'I'm trying to make progress,' she said. 'I don't have money to pay for a hotel every night. I don't have anywhere else.' Andrea is among many people relying on FEMA assistance to cover hotel costs. The Transitional Housing Assistance Program was set to end Wednesday. The looming expiration date put more stress on storm survivors. 'It's really tough, I'm under doctor's care, I have medical problems, I can't just get up and say, 'lets go'. I can't because I don't know where I'm going to end up,' explained Treasure Island resident Marian Majewski. Now, the aid is extended for two months. Leaders with Sen. Rick Scott's office sent the following statement FDEM did request an extension from FEMA for TSA and they granted the limited extension – verbiage received from the state below – By policy, FEMA's Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program is available for up to 6 months from the date of disaster declaration, when approved. Given the scale of sheltering needs for Hurricanes Helene and Milton, FDEM submitted a request to extend the TSA program wholistically. FEMA has authorized a 60-day limited extension of the TSA program for specific households who fall into categories that they have determined to be eligible for continued sheltering. This limited extension will move the current end date for the program from April 9, 2025, to June 8, 2025. This extension is limited to those households currently checked-in to TSA hotels who are either approved for FEMA Direct Housing but are still awaiting placement, or who have sustained Major or Destroyed damage levels as verified by a FEMA home inspection. Households who do not fall into one of these two categories will be notified by FEMA with a check-out date of April 9, 2025. Households who have applied for FEMA assistance must keep FEMA apprised of their current housing status. Applicants can be reviewed to see if they qualify for rental assistance. Households that have not been in TSA will not be approved for TSA at this point. Households that receive rental assistance can utilize this money to pay for rental units or if the hotel has space they can use the monies to pay to stay there. The county has weekly meetings with FEMA and the State on the status of households. FEMA and the state contact families to assess their situations and to verify what their housing plan is. FEMA continues to stress that households update their information online or call the 1-800 number. Pinellas county continues to work with FEMA for placement of travel trailers and mobile homes as well as sharing local rental resources. Spokesperson for Sen. Rick Scott The news is relief for families still working to put their homes back together. 'I don't want to be on the streets, I refuse to sleep on the streets,' said Simhony. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rep. Kathy Castor says eliminating FEMA would be ‘dangerous' for Florida families
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — During a televised cabinet meeting, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said she plans to 'eliminate' FEMA but didn't go further into how that could play out. Rep. Kathy Castor, who represents people in Tampa and St. Petersburg, wants the Trump Administration to rethink those plans, especially since FEMA is still assisting families after back-to-back hurricanes. Sierra Club warns of pollution causing murky water in Kings Bay 'Eliminating FEMA would be dangerous and costly for Florida families and businesses,' Castor said. FEMA is a federal agency that helps states prepare and respond after disasters, like hurricanes. The agency not only helps families with individual assistance, but it also reimburses municipalities for debris removal. 'There's no way that a community facing catastrophe has the ability to keep a search-and-rescue team on task all year long or have a medical assistant team on task all year long,' Castor said. 'To think you're asking the state to maintain and carry those costs for months, and months, and months. That just doesn't make sense. That's not financially wise.' While at the Florida State Fair last month, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced his support for overhauling FEMA and allowing states to take more control. 'You've got folks with Milton and Helene who are still battling FEMA,' DeSantis said. Rep. Castor says that's not a good idea based on years of complaints from Floridians who are seeking jobless benefits. 'We know from the experience of Florida's unemployment compensation system that they have never been able to deliver aide in a timely basis,' Castor said. The latest numbers from Thursday show that FEMA has distributed $1.5 billion for individual assistance in Florida from Debby, Helene, and Milton. $1.6 billion has been approved in public assistance under those same storms. President Trump has floated the idea for a major overhaul on how FEMA operates. He even created a FEMA review council through an executive order. As for changes, Castor would like to see at least one difference. 'They really should improve their customer service, especially on the individual emergency aid where they often tell people they're denied when they're not denied,' Castor said. In a statement, Rep. Gus Bilirakis, who represents coastal areas from Holiday up to Homosassa said: 'FEMA's response to our recent hurricanes has been abysmal, with too many of my constituents still waiting for help and answers coming painfully slow. I agree with President Trump and Secretary Noem that we need to take a serious look at shifting federal funding and decision-making back to the states. I believe in local control – because local leaders are more accountable to those they serve. For example, we've seen that the Florida Department of Emergency Management (FDEM) has been much more effective in meeting the unique needs of Floridians than FEMA. With more flexibility and funding, I believe FDEM could do an even better job meeting the needs of those who are suffering and that is a concept worth exploring.' Rep. Gus Bilirakis Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
FDEM launches ‘groundbreaking' residential mitigation program
The Florida Department of Emergency Management recently launched Elevate Florida, a financial assistance program for homeowners. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< According to FDEM, the program is a 'first-of-its-kind, groundbreaking statewide residential mitigation program.' It's designed to protect homes and communities by reducing natural disaster damage. The FDEM said Elevate Florida has benefits such as significant cost savings, lower insurance costs, and increased home resilience. To apply and learn more, click here. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New storm recovery program is helping Florida residents raise homes, build back stronger after hurricanes
The Brief The Elevate Florida program is the state's division of emergency management's new federally funded residential mitigation program. It includes different resiliency projects, including raising homes. Leaders in some hard-hit areas, like St. Pete Beach, hopes the program will help limit the number of people who are displaced after future storms. TAMPA, Fla. - A new storm recovery program is trying to help homeowners build back stronger after Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The Elevate Florida program is the Florida Division of Emergency Management's new, federally funded residential mitigation program. It's now accepting applications for funding for different resiliency projects, including raising homes. READ: Asphalt shingles may not last as long as once thought. Here's what new research shows By the numbers Funding from a federal grant will cover at least 75% of the project's cost. The cost will include relocation expenses during construction. Property owners will be required to cover up to 25% of the total project cost. The cost to raise a home varies, but it could cost several hundred thousand dollars. The FDEM said the total construction cost will be determined during the initial review period. What to Know In order to be eligible for the program, you must be a U.S. citizen who is 18 years or older. You also must be a legal residential property owner in Florida. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube The FDEM said multi-family properties like duplexes, triplexes, condos, townhomes, semi-detached homes, apartments and manufactured homes may be eligible. It said the property does not need to have experienced flooding or damage in the past to be considered. However, the state said applications will be prioritized by the history of loss. Secondary residences may be eligible if there's enough funding. Local perspective Four months after Helene, homes in St. Pete are still under construction. Families across the Tampa Bay area have been displaced from their homes for months. "Everything was gone," Jose Berrios, who lives in St. Pete, said. "We weren't really expecting it, because we've never flooded." MORE: Gov. DeSantis supports President Trump's pledge to overhaul how FEMA operates Berrios said they had 18 inches of water inside their home, which had never flooded before. He considers himself lucky though, because he hopes to move back into his home in about a week. He said the rebuild process has still been extremely difficult and time-consuming. "We were surprised how much work it was," Berrios said. "We were surprised at just how much paperwork there is." Some homeowners are filing even more paperwork now to apply for the Elevate Florida program. Leaders in some hard-hit areas, like St. Pete Beach hopes the program will help limit the number of people who are displaced after future storms and help lower insurance premiums for homeowners. "Any time you can elevate above the floodplain, reduce the impacts to your personal home and belongings, it benefits them, certainly benefits the community," St. Pete Beach's Interim Community Development Director Denise Sanderson said. READ:Gulf Beaches Public Library reopens after hurricanes thanks to $150K donation for repairs Dig deeper The program funds structure elevation, mitigation reconstruction, acquisition and demolition and wind mitigation. The state also oversees the construction process and determines approved contractors for the projects. The entire process could be extremely time-consuming, though. The FDEM said the process could take a year or two, from start to finish. "It will be a lengthy process," Sanderson said. "And, for those that are displaced from home, the city of St. Pete Beach does offer minimal repair permits so that folks can safely reoccupy their home while awaiting the outcome of a process like this." You can find more information about the Elevate Florida program and how to apply here. The Source The information in this story was gathered through interviews with residents and St. Pete Beach officials as well as information from the Florida Division of Emergency Management. WATCH FOX 13 NEWS: STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app:Apple |Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
