FEMA: At Six-Month Mark, Florida Hurricane Sally Recovery is Moving Ahead

Six months ago, communities across 14 affected counties in Florida experienced the devastating effects of Hurricane Sally. Since the hurricane made landfall Sept. 16, 2020, federal assistance for recovery in those counties is approximately $269.2 million. This includes National Flood Insurance Program insurance payments; FEMA grants for temporary rental assistance, basic home repairs, and other needs not covered by insurance; and U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses.

Federal assistance for Hurricane Sally, as of March 16, 2021:

• More than $36.3 million approved in FEMA Individual Assistance:

• More than $28.4 million approved for housing repair costs, home replacement and rental payments.
• Nearly $7.9 million approved to replace essential household items and for other critical disaster-related costs.

• 8,463 individuals and households were approved for housing assistance and other disaster-related costs such as home repair, rental assistance and replacing essential household items.
• More than 5,400 homeowners and renters displaced by the storm have received rental assistance.
• The U.S. Small Business Administration approved 2,141 low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters and businesses for more than $84 million.
• 4,758 claims filed with the National Flood Insurance Program primarily in Bay, Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties; $144.5 million paid.
• Flood insurance specialists have contacted more than 360 insurance agents and more than 280 real estate professionals in the Hurricane Sally-affected area with flood-insurance and flood-risk information, claims and marketing support.
• More than $4.4 million in Public Assistance grants approved for Hurricane Sally-related reimbursements to state and local governments, and certain nonprofits.

Additional activities:

FEMA’s Interagency Recovery Coordination Group works closely and collaboratively with the state, the designated counties and their communities, other federal partners, foundations, nonprofits, and stakeholders in the public and private sectors throughout Hurricane Sally recovery efforts. They work to help identify and coordinate financial and other resources to meet needs beyond what FEMA, the state and other programs can cover. IRC has provided recovery resources to stakeholders and affected communities to inform them of upcoming webinars, trainings, grants and funding opportunities. IRC and the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) have planned virtual grant technical assistance trainings and workshops in April 2021. For more information about IRC’s Hurricane Sally recovery efforts in Florida, visit their Recovery Resources and Information portal at https://fema.connectsolutions.com/dr4564sally/.

All efforts to restore and rebuild the hardest-hit areas include projects focused on the “whole community” approach – with state and federal agencies joining with community leaders, faith-based partners and others. Through coordination assistance from FEMA Voluntary Agency Liaisons and Volunteer Florida, three Long-term Recovery Groups have formed in the Panhandle to address long term Hurricane Sally recovery needs.

As the costs of disasters continue to rise, governments and residents must find ways to reduce hazard risks to our communities. Under the presidential declaration for Hurricane Sally, all areas within the State of Florida are eligible for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). HMGP funding helps communities eliminate or reduce future disaster-related damage. In general, individuals may not apply directly to FEMA or the state for HMGP funding, but may be sponsored through a local government, tribe or private nonprofit. All applications from local governments or others are submitted to the state, which receives and distributes HMGP funds from FEMA.

For more information about Hurricane Sally recovery in Florida, visit the FEMA disaster webpage at https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4564 or the Florida Division of Emergency Management webpage at https://www.floridadisaster.org/info/Sally/.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. Civil rights complaints in connection with FEMA-funded activities may be submitted by mail to FEMA Office of Equal Rights, C Street SW, Room 4SW-0915, Washington, DC 20472-3505, by email to [email protected], or by calling 833-285-7448 (TTY 800-462-7585).