FEMA Provides Housing Assistance When Homes Are Inaccessible

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Housing assistance is available for homeowners and renters still unable to access their homes because of standing floodwater left behind by Tropical Storm Fay in declared counties. If you live in Baker, Brevard, Collier, Duval, Glades, Hendry, Jefferson, Lake, Lee, Leon, Marion, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Polk, St. Lucie, Seminole, Volusia or Wakulla counties, you may be eligible for a one-month housing grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Here are the steps you will need to follow: * First, call FEMA and register for assistance. FEMA can provide temporary housing to those whose homes are uninhabitable because of standing floodwater. * Accessibility to a damaged residence is one of the standard questions asked during the registration process. This accessibility question will also be asked by the FEMA-contracted inspector when an appointment call is initially made. * Inspectors who find they cannot reach a property for inspection will provide the resident's name and address to FEMA's Temporary Housing Program. * FEMA will then send funds to cover one month fair market rent as determined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The policy regarding inaccessible housing differs from the normal requirement that inspections be completed before disaster funds can be released and ensures that people left homeless by recent flooding can secure temporary quarters. If you receive this intermediate assistance, you should keep receipts for rental of temporary housing. You should notify FEMA through the helpline at 800-621-3362 when waters have receded and the home is accessible for inspection. If the flood condition persists beyond the original 30-day period, a call to the helpline will enable FEMA to re-certify the need for temporary housing assistance if conditions warrant. FEMA may provide additional assistance after the home has been inspected. FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.