President Donald J. Trump has amended the Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Florida (FEMA-4337-DR-FL) to include Citrus, Hernando and Pasco Counties. This declaration triggers the release of Federal funds to help individuals and communities recover from Hurricane Irma that began September 4, 2017, and continuing.

The IHP provides financial help or direct services for those eligible residents that do not have the means to meet their needs and offers these forms of help:

 Housing assistance for renters or homeowners for temporary housing, home repairs, and either semi-permanent or permanent housing construction services

 Other needs assistance, including uninsured, disaster-related necessary expenses; serious needs, such as medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, repair, cleaning or replacement of personal items; and other eligible expenses

If the home is in the Special Flood Hazard Area, the homeowner must comply with flood insurance requirements, local flood codes, and requirements for all assistance.

Residents can register with FEMA:

Register with FEMA as soon as possible. If you preregistered with FEMA, you do not have to apply again. If you have phone and/or internet access, you may register:

• Online at DisasterAssistance.gov, or
• On the FEMA Mobile App, or by
• Calling 800-621-3362 (FEMA). Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may also call 800-621-3362. People who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585.
• The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET, seven days a week.
• Multilingual operators are available. Press 2 for Spanish and press 3 for other languages.

Don’t be discouraged if you do not have access to telephone or internet service. Disaster survivor assistance specialists will soon be in the Nature Coast helping people register for assistance.

Locations for FEMA disaster specialist will be announced at a later date. Assistance for eligible survivors can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, and for other serious disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses or funeral and burial costs.

Long-term, low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) also may be available to businesses to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

Contact your insurance company to file an insurance claim. FEMA does not duplicate insurance payments. However, you may still receive help after your insurance claims have been settled.

For more information on assistance available under President Trump’s Major Disaster Declaration, go to Federal Aid Programs for the State of Florida.