TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Mitigation specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will provide information and advice on cleaning up and rebuilding homes after Tropical Storm Debby at community events in Suwannee and Hernando counties this week.

FEMA mitigation specialists – who can explain disaster-resistant ways to repair and rebuild –  will be at the Smokin’ on the Suwannee BBQ at 13944 48^th St. in Live Oak. They will be available Friday, July 27, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday, July 28, from 8 a.m. to 5 p. m.

The specialists will also be at the Hernando County Farmers Market in Spring Hill at 2450 U.S. 19 (Commercial Way) on Saturday, July 28, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Mitigation specialists offer suggestions on cleaning mold and mildew. They also provide information on flood insurance.

For more information on Florida’s disaster recovery, visit  www.fema.gov or www.floridadisaster.org. On Facebook, go to www.facebook.com/FloridaSERT. To receive Twitter updates: www.twitter.com/FLSERT or www.twitter.com/femaregion4.

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.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). If you have a speech disability or hearing loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

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