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Many Panhandle residents may believe they don’t need to buy flood insurance. They don’t live in a high-risk flood zone. But flooding can happen anywhere, often to the surprise of residents who thought they were covered for disaster. When flooding happens, the damage is not covered by most homeowners’ insurance policies.
In Florida, flooding is not uncommon. Yet only 35 percent of structures in high-risk flood zones, called Special Flood Hazard Areas, are covered by flood insurance policies issued by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). After Hurricane Sally, 4,600 policyholders filed flood claims and 30 percent of the claims were for properties in areas not designated high-risk. The flood insurance program has 1.7 million Florida policy holders with more than $441 billion in total coverage.
Property owners can protect themselves from these financial losses by having a flood insurance policy through the NFIP. Flood insurance coverage is available regardless of federal disaster declarations. Insurance for contents is also available to renters. There is a 30-day waiting period before new policies go into effect, so don’t wait too late to obtain a policy.
How to buy:
Contact your insurance company or agent. In addition to the NFIP, flood insurance is also available from some private insurance providers.
For an agent referral, call 800-427-4661 or visit https://www.fema.gov/flood-insurance.
For more information, visit FloodSmart.gov or call the NFIP helpdesk at 800-427-4661. Or visit: https://www.floridadisaster.org/planprepare/flood-insurance/.
How to register for FEMA assistance
Homeowners and renters in Bay, Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties who had uninsured losses from Hurricane Sally may be eligible for federal disaster assistance from FEMA. You can register with FEMA in several ways:
The deadline to register for federal assistance is Dec. 1, 2020.
Mobile Registration Intake Centers
If you need help registering or want information about disaster assistance, you can visit a Mobile Registration Intake Center at these locations:
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Marie Young Wedgewood Community Center
6405 Wagner Rd., Pensacola, FL 32505
Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. through Oct. 31; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday after Nov. 1
Closed Nov. 3 (election polling site)
Lexington Terrace Community Center
700 S. Old Corry Field Rd., Pensacola, FL 32507
Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. through Oct. 31; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday after Nov. 1
Closed Nov. 3 (election polling site)
Escambia County Equestrian Center
7750 Mobile Hwy, Pensacola, FL 32526
Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. through Oct. 31; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday after Nov. 1
BAY COUNTY
Sharon J. Sheffield Park
901 Ohio Ave., Lynn Haven, FL 32444
Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. except Oct. 29 (9 a.m.-4 p.m.)
Closes permanently at 6 p.m. Oct. 30
OKALOOSA COUNTY
Northwest Florida Fairgrounds
1958 Lewis Turner Blvd, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. through Oct. 31; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday after Nov. 1
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Gulf Breeze Community Center
800 Shoreline Drive, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561
Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. through Oct. 31; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday after Nov. 1
Closed Nov. 3 (election polling site)
Pensacola State College
5988 U.S. 90, Milton, FL 32583
Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. through Oct. 31; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday after Nov. 1
WALTON COUNTY
Freeport Regional Sports Complex
563 Hammock Trail East, Freeport, FL 32439
Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. through Oct. 31; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday after Nov. 1
After you register
After you apply for federal disaster assistance, it is important that FEMA be able to contact you. Be aware that phone calls from FEMA may appear to come from unidentified numbers and make sure that FEMA has your current contact information. FEMA may call to obtain more information for your application or to conduct a remote home inspection in order to be able to continue processing your application.
Applicants for FEMA assistance will receive a letter from FEMA by mail or email. It is important to read it carefully because it will include the amount of any assistance FEMA may provide to you and information on the appropriate use of disaster assistance funds. You may need to submit additional information for FEMA to continue to process your application. If you have questions about the letter, go online to DisasterAssistance.gov or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585 (TTY).
After you apply for disaster assistance from FEMA, you may be referred to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). It is important to submit a disaster loan application as soon as possible. If your application is approved, you are not obligated to accept an SBA loan. But failure to return the application will disqualify you from other possible FEMA assistance, such as disaster-related car repairs, clothing, household items and other expenses.
By the numbers (10/29/2020)
4,554 individuals and households approved for $19.2 million in FEMA assistance, including:
$15.3 million approved for housing assistance
$3.9 million approved for other disaster-related needs
8,644 home inspections completed
$25.9 million in SBA loans approved
4,383 claims filed with the National Flood Insurance Program; $49.7 million paid
Survivors are strongly encouraged to set up a disaster account with FEMA online.
FEMA Public Assistance (PA)
Under the major disaster declaration, FEMA is authorized to provide Public Assistance for debris removal, emergency measures and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged public facilities such as roads and bridges, water control facilities, buildings and equipment, utilities and parks for the following counties:
Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton and Washington.
For guidance on debris removal processes, residents should contact their local government.
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA):
Business owners, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters may be eligible for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to help recover from losses not covered by insurance, grants or other services.
Applicants may apply online using SBA’s secure website at https://DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov/. Or they may email [email protected] for more information on SBA disaster assistance.
For businesses, SBA is operating two Business Recovery Centers at East Pensacola Heights Clubhouse, 3208 E. Gonzalez St., Pensacola, FL 32503; and Bridgeway Center, Building C, 205 Shell Ave., Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548. Business owners can meet with SBA representatives and get help applying for SBA’s low-interest disaster loans. Hours are 8 a.m.-8 p.m. every day. The Pensacola center will close at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30 and reopen Thursday, Nov. 5 at 8 a.m.
For additional information about SBA disaster loans, the loan application process, or for help completing the SBA application, visit SBA’s secure website at https://DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov/. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or email [email protected] for more information on SBA disaster assistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard‑of‑hearing may call 800-877-8339.
Resources
To file a Disaster Unemployment Assistance claim go to www.FloridaJobs.org or call 800-385-3920. Customer service representatives are available Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET (6:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. CT) to assist claimants. For DUA claim information, call 833-FL-APPLY (833-352-7759) and choose the “speak to an agent” option. Click here to find information on how to apply for DUA and Frequently Asked Questions. The deadline to apply is Nov. 6, 2020.
Disaster Legal Services provides free legal help to low-income Hurricane Sally survivors with disaster-related legal needs. Call 866-550-2929.
The mission of Escambia County government is to provide efficient, responsive services that enhance our quality of life, meet common needs and promote a safe and healthy community.
Under Florida law, IP addresses and both the content of emails and email addresses are public records. If you do not want your IP address and the content of your email or your email address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in person.