Florida Disaster Aid Tops $2 Billion

Release Date: October 27, 2004 Release Number: 1539-238

» More Information on Florida Hurricane Charley and Tropical Storm Bonnie
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Jeanne
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Ivan
» More Information on Florida Hurricane Frances

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Federal and state disaster assistance reached $2,092,800,000 on Monday as Florida residents continue to apply for hurricane and flood-related aid, Michael Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, announced today.

To date, nearly 1,052,000 Floridians have registered for recovery aid since Hurricane Charley first struck the state on August 13, followed by Hurricanes Frances, Ivan and Jeanne.

"Providing temporary housing continues to be the major focus in our recovery effort," said Brown, who heads the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). "At this time, we are primarily focused on helping everyone who was made homeless by the recent disasters relocate to safe and secure living quarters so they will have the ability to concentrate on their recovery."

Of the more than $2 billion in federal and state disaster aid, $806.3 million was approved for assistance to homeowners, renters and business owners. That assistance includes housing assistance such as lodging expenses, rental assistance, home repair, and other related needs such as medical and dental expenses and transportation costs.

Another $910.8 million was obligated to state and local governments to ensure the orderly response to emergency situations. The U. S. Small Business Administration also has approved $324.5 million in low-interest loans to individuals and business owners.

While the initial emphasis was directed at individual safety and recovery, FEMA and Florida's State Emergency Response Team have begun the process of assisting local governments and certain private, non-profit organizations in their recovery efforts. Currently, $51.2 million in federal funds has been obligated for infrastructure assistance. FEMA pays 90 percent of the costs, and the state and local governments share the balance.

A county-by-county breakdown of recovery aid resulting from the four hurricanes to strike Florida this season is provided in the attachment. The breakdown data reflects assistance totals as of Monday October 25.

On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.