When an emergency is declared, such as during Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides a range of assistance. The agency primarily focuses on providing financial assistance right after a disaster strikes.
Support may extend to those impacted by calamities, offering financial aid of $750 to cover urgent necessities — such as medication or diapers — following a storm or earthquake or any other disaster.
This could also imply extra funds needed for renting a new place due to the destruction of their home or for securing a storage unit. The residents of 34 counties affected by Hurricane Milton can apply for FEMA Assistance.
Eligibility for FEMA Assistance
The agency states that eligibility for financial assistance from FEMA requires residency in a disaster area declared by the President of the United States. Find out the status of your area using FEMA’s address lookup tool available here.
On Saturday, President Joe Biden granted a significant disaster declaration for 34 counties in Florida, allowing survivors of the disaster to seek FEMA assistance in those areas. A major disaster declaration has been approved for Hurricane Helene.
Homeowners and renters in the following areas can apply for FEMA Aid.
- Brevard County
- Charlotte County
- Citrus County
- Clay County
- Collier County
- DeSoto County
- Duval County
- Flagler County
- Glades County
- Hardee County
- Hendry County
- Hernando County
- Highlands County
- Hillsborough County
- Indian River County
- Lake County
- Lee County
- Manatee County
- Marion County
- Martin County
- Okeechobee County
- Orange County
- Osceola County
- Palm Beach County
- Pasco County
- Pinellas County
- Polk County
- Putnam County
- Sarasota County
- Seminole County
- St. Johns County
- St. Lucie County
- Sumter County
- Volusia County
- Miccosukee Tribe of Indians
How to Get FEMA Assistance?
The program offers a direct and adaptable financial aid option aimed at assisting with crucial necessities such as food, water, baby formula, breastfeeding supplies, medication, and various emergency items, as stated by the agency.
You can apply for FEMA disaster assistance in four different ways:
- Fill out a DisasterAssistance.gov application online
- Apply using the FEMA app by downloading the free app from your smartphone’s app store
- Apply by phone at 1-800-621-3362
- Apply in person at a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC).
Documents Required
To receive FEMA assistance money, you will need the following:
- Your Social Security number
- Insurance information
- A description of the damage caused
- Your annual household income
- Contact information
- Bank account information for direct deposit
Reference: Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton: A Guide to FEMA Assistance for Florida Residents