Post Hurricane Resources

GMCC WEB LINKS

For some key information on business resources and continuity visit the following pages:

• Business Insurance Solutions
• Miami Resources
• South Florida Resources
• State of Florida Resources
• Florida Comprehensive Hurricane Damage Mitigation Program

 

HOW TO APPLY FOR FEMA ASSISTANCE

FEMA has approved Miami-Dade and Broward County residents who suffered damage because of Hurricane Wilma to receive federal disaster assistance. To determine if you are eligible for this aid, you need to apply.

Before you call, you need to have a pen, paper and the following information:

• Social Security Number
• Current and pre-disaster address
• A telephone number where you can be contacted
• Insurance information
• Total household annual income
• A routing and account number for your bank (only necessary if you want to have disaster assistance funds transferred directly into your bank account)
• A description of your losses that were caused by the disaster

After you have completed the application for assistance, you will receive a FEMA application number. It is important to write down this number and keep it for future reference.

Call the special FEMA toll free telephone number, 1-800-621-FEMA (TTY: 1-800-462-7585), follow the instructions and register.  FEMA says it has specially trained operators at one of FEMA's National Processing Centers to process your application. You can also apply online at www.FEMA.gov.

 

Assistance Available to Individuals and Households

If you are eligible, FEMA assistance can include cash grants of up to $26,200 per individual for:

Temporary Housing:  Money to rent a place to live or temporary housing unit (when rental properties are not available).

Repair:  Money for homeowners to repair damage from the disaster that is not covered by insurance. The goal is to repair the home to a safe and sanitary living or functioning condition.  FEMA may provide up to $5,200; then the homeowner must apply for a Small Business Administration disaster loan for additional repair assistance. FEMA will not pay to return a home to its condition before the disaster. Flood insurance may be required if the home is in a Special Flood Hazard Area. Repair and replacement items include:

• Structural parts of a home (foundation, outside walls, roof)
• Windows, doors, floors, walls, ceilings, cabinetry
• Septic or sewage system
• Well or other water system
• Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system
• Utilities (electrical, plumbing, and gas systems)
• Entrance and exit ways from the home, including privately owned access roads
• Blocking, leveling and anchoring of a mobile home and reconnecting or resetting its sewer, water, electrical and fuel lines and tanks

Replacement:  Money to replace a disaster-damaged home, under rare conditions, if this can be done with limited funds.  If the home is located in a Special Flood Hazard Area, the homeowner must comply with flood insurance purchase requirements and local flood codes and requirements.  The goal is to help the homeowner with the cost of replacing their destroyed home.  FEMA may provide up to $10,500.

Permanent Housing Construction:  Direct assistance or money for the construction of a home. This type of assistance occurs only in very unusual situations, in remote locations specified by FEMA, where no other type of housing assistance is possible. Construction shall follow current minimal local building codes and standards where they exist, or minimal acceptable construction industry standards in the area. Construction will aim toward average quality, size, and capacity, taking into consideration the needs of the occupant. If the home is located in a Special Flood Hazard Area, the homeowner must comply with flood insurance purchase requirements and local flood codes and requirements.

Other Needs Assistance: Grants for uninsured, disaster-related necessary expenses and serious needs. Flood insurance may be required on insurable items (personal property) if they are to be located in a Special Flood Hazard Area. Assistance includes:

• Medical and dental expenses
• Funeral and burial costs
• Repair, cleaning, or replacement of:
• Clothing
• Household items (room furnishings, appliances)
• Specialized tools or protective clothing and equipment required for your job
• Necessary educational materials (computers, school books, supplies)
• Clean-up items (wet/dry vacuum, air purifier, dehumidifier)
• Fuel (fuel, chain saw, firewood)
• Repairing or replacing vehicles damaged by the disaster, or providing for public transportation or other transportation costs
• Moving and storage expenses related to the disaster (including evacuation, storage, or the return of property to a home)
• Other necessary expenses or serious needs (for example, towing, or setup or connecting essential utilities for a housing unit not provided by FEMA)
• The cost of a National Flood Insurance Program group flood insurance policy to meet the flood insurance requirements for “other needs assistance”

 

Conditions and Limitations of IHP Assistance

Non-discrimination:  All forms of FEMA disaster housing assistance are available to any affected household that meets the conditions of eligibility.  No Federal entity or official (or their agent) may discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, or economic status. 

Residency status in the United States and its territories:  To be considered for disaster housing assistance, you or an adult household member must provide proof of identity and sign a declaration stating that you/they are a United States citizen, a non-citizen national, or a qualified alien.

SBA ASSISTANCE

www.sba.gov

Disaster-related loans are being readied by government officials to help businesses offset the financial impact of Hurricane Wilma.

 

About SBA's disaster program:

Who can apply? Companies and nonprofits with fewer than 500 employees.

What can I get? Loans of up to $1.5 million to repair damage to real estate, machinery, equipment and inventory. The loans start at rates of 4 percent and at terms up to 30 years. The SBA is also offering economic injury disaster loans, for small firms unable to cover bills or meet operating expenses.

How do I apply? By phone or online, but SBA spokesman Mike Stamler cautioned that the offices would only start operating once the Federal Emergency Management Agency opens its disaster assistance centers. Wednesday evening FEMA said it was ''scouting'' for seven such locations, but could not say where those sites would be.

 

About Bridge Loan program:

Local economic officials are also expecting the Governor's office to activate the emergency Bridge Loan program, designed to give entrepreneurs the quick cash they need to make emergency repairs.

Who can apply? Firms with 100 employees or less.

What can I get? Unsecured loans of up to $25,000 for 90 days or 180 days at no interest.

 

TO REPORT PRICE GOUGING

• Price Gouging Hotline: Call 866-9-NO-SCAM.
• State Attorney's Office, Community Outreach Division: Before a Storm 305-547-0724
• State Attorney's Office, Hotline: During and After a Storm 305-547-3300

 

TO REPORT A HOME OR AUTO INSURANCE CLAIM

Claimants should have their policy number.

• State Farm Insurance: 800-732-5246
• Allstate Floridian Insurance: 800-547-8676
• Nationwide Insurance: 800-421-3535
• USAA: 800-531-8222
• Citizens Property Insurance: 866-411-CPIC
• First Floridian Auto & Home Insurance: 800-252-4633
• Progressive Auto Insurance: 800-776-4737
• Mercury Insurance Group: 800-987-6000
• National Flood Insurance Program: 800-427-4661