Federal Disaster Assistance Available to Tropical Storm Debby Survivors in 11 Counties 

Release Date: July 4, 2012
Release Number: 4068-001

» More Information on Florida Tropical Storm Debby

ATLANTA, Ga. — Tropical Storm Debby survivors in Florida’s Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Franklin, Hernando, Highlands, Pasco, Pinellas, Suwannee and Wakulla counties can apply now for federal disaster assistance.

Money for temporary housing and essential home repairs not covered by insurance is available. Renters, homeowners and business owners may register for help through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

If you live in one of the designated counties and sustained losses or damages from Tropical Storm Debby, you can register with FEMA by one of the following methods:

• Call 800-621-FEMA (3362), which is video relay service accessible. Assistance is available in most languages and lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, seven days a week. If you are deaf or hard of hearing and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585.
• Go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
• By smartphone or tablet, use the FEMA app or go to m.fema.gov.

FEMA will ask for the following information:

• The telephone number where you can be reached;
• The address where you lived at the time of the disaster and the address where you are staying;
• Your Social Security number;
• A general description of damage to your property and other losses;
• The name of your insurance company and policy number or agent if you have property insurance; and
• Your bank account routing information if you want FEMA to use direct deposit.

Federal disaster assistance helps eligible applicants with temporary housing, uninsured personal property losses and medical, dental and funeral expenses caused by the disaster, along with other disaster-related expenses and serious needs.

Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration are also available to help with residential and business losses not covered by insurance. Survivors and businesses may obtain

information on SBA disaster loan applications by calling 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for people who are deaf or hard of hearing) or online at www.SBA.gov. They may also apply for disaster loans electronically from SBA’s website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Last Modified: Thursday, 05-Jul-2012 14:39:06