Fri., Oct. 2 - Updates are highlighted
Santa Rosa County Damage Assessment Report:
- 50 public facilities damaged (10 roads/bridges, four public buildings, 34 parks/boat ramps)
- 19 commercial buildings assessed (6 affected, 9 had minor damage, 4 had major damage)
- 1650 citizens submitted damage reports which is not just homes but also sheds, roads, trees down, flooding/drainage issues, fences, boats, cars, etc.
- Approximately 1400 homes were assessed of which:
- 786 were affected (some sort of minor damage – still livable, like shingles missing or cosmetic damage)
- 468 homes had minor damage - water in home 3-18 inches, may have to replace sheetrock or window but still livable
- 139 homes had major damage - more than 18 inches of water, structural damage, damage will keep residents out of their home for more than 30 days
- Six homes were destroyed – structure is total loss, permanently uninhabitable, not economically feasible to rebuild
How to Apply for FEMA Individual Assistance
- As of the time this release was created, the FEMA disaster assistance page does not have Santa Rosa County listed yet, but residents may still apply online for assistance.
- Register online at www.disasterassistance.gov.
- Typically potential applicants can begin registering within a few hours after a declaration is issued. FEMA will verify eligibility and need before assistance is offered.
- Call 1-800-621-3362 (TTY# 1-800-462-7585)
- Download the FEMA app and register using the app.
- Physical Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) to be announced by FEMA at a later time.
What FEMA Will and Will Not Cover (www.fema.gov/individual-disaster-assistance)
- FEMA will provide assistance to those who have lost their homes whether you rent or own.
- FEMA will offer transitional sheltering assistance for renters and homeowners and also for other disaster related expenses including medical/dental, childcare, funeral/burial, essential household items, moving/storage, vehicle and some clean-up items.
- FEMA housing assistance typically covers only costs that will make your home habitable. Damage to non-essential space, landscaping or spoiled food usually is not covered by FEMA grants.
- FEMA assistance can’t duplicate the assistance you receive from your insurance company.
- FEMA does not offer assistance for secondary homes (vacation homes, rental properties), only primary residences.
- FEMA does not offer assistance for small businesses but they do partner with the SBA which is offering low interest loans.
- FEMA will not provide money to individuals or households for losses already covered by insurance but you do not need to wait to apply for FEMA assistance. You will have up to 12 months from the date you registered with FEMA to submit insurance information for review.
Debris
- Residential debris removal is ongoing in unincorporated areas of Santa Rosa County and the Town of Jay. On Wed., Sept. 30, 9,767.3 cubic yards of debris was collected and a total of 49,715.2 cubic yards of debris have been collected in the past week.
- Santa Rosa County requires all homeowners associations representing private or gated subdivisions or roads execute a right of entry and hold harmless form before Hurricane Sally debris can be removed from those premises. The right of entry/hold harmless form can be found online (https://bit.ly/2EVKSlW) and should be completed by an authorized representative and emailed to MalloryW@santarosa.fl.gov in the county attorney's office before debris haulers will be able to provide services to those neighborhoods. For questions, call the Santa Rosa County attorney's office, 850-983-1857.
Volunteer Needs and Coordination
- Civic and faith-based groups are needed to help Santa Rosa County residents struggling with manpower needs following Hurricane Sally. Volunteers are needed to cut and remove trees, tarp roofs, clean yards and perform other physical tasks for the county’s more vulnerable citizens. Organizations may register at www.crisiscleanup.org now and will be fast-tracked for approval in time for the crisp cooler weather this weekend! Registration through Crisis Cleanup is important in ensuring needs can be met without duplication of efforts.
- Can’t volunteer physically but still want to help? Donate funds to assist Santa Rosa County residents in need through SAFER, (www.santarosa.fl.gov/353/SAFER), Santa Rosa County’s Support Alliance for Emergency Readiness, a local organization that serves the unmet needs of county residents during the long-term recovery period following disasters, or through United Way of West Florida by texting 850Relief to 41444 or online at www.uwwf.org/850Relief.
- Santa Rosa County residents who need assistance are encouraged to call Crisis Cleanup, 800-451-1954, to make a request for help.
Food Pantries
Small Business Economic Recovery Grant
- Santa Rosa County has allocated a total of $2.6 million of CARES Act funding to provide grants of up to $20,000 to eligible small businesses. In partnership with the Florida Small Business Development Center, applications will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis. Visit santarosa.fl.gov for more information, eligibility requirements and a list of required documents.
City of Milton
City of Gulf Breeze
Escambia County Information
General Preparedness Information