Release date: May 6, 2014       Release Number: HQ-14-038

 The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to the State of Florida and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding from April 28 to May 6, 2014.

The President's action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

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 the effects of the disaster.     

Federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are fully completed.

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated area can begin applying for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or by using a web enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov.  Disaster assistance applicants who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY should call 1-800-462-7585 directly and those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS) should call 1-800-621-3362. These toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

You can also find additional local information on Fort Walton Beach Military Communities