FEMA Inspecting Homes After Hurricanes: After Floridians apply for FEMA assistance following the 2024 Hurricanes, a home inspection may be necessary to help determine whether the home is safe, sanitary and livable. Inspectors do not make decisions regarding eligibility for assistance. Information gathered during the inspection is part of several criteria used by FEMA to determine if applicants are eligible for federal assistance. Inspectors will make an appointment with the applicant before coming. They will already have the applicant’s FEMA application number. They carry photo identification. For security reasons, federal identification may not be photographed or recorded. Inspectors will never ask for, or accept, money.

Their service is free.

How to Apply for FEMA Assistance: If you sustained damage or losses from the 2024 Hurricanes, FEMA may be able to help. You may be eligible for financial assistance for displacement, serious needs, temporary lodging, basic home repairs, personal property losses and other uninsured or underinsured disaster-related expenses. Homeowners and renters in Charlotte, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Franklin, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Leon, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Suwannee, Taylor and Wakulla counties can apply to FEMA for assistance. It is not necessary to visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) to apply (CLICK HERE to locate a DRC). The quickest way to apply is to go online to DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also apply using the FEMA App for mobile devices or calling toll-free 800-621-3362. Lines are open every day and help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service. To view an accessible video on how to apply visit Three Ways to Apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance - YouTube. Application deadline for Hurricane Helene is Nov. 27, 2024.

If You Cannot Live in Your Home After A Hurricane: FEMA Displacement Assistance may help homeowners and renters who can’t return to their home because it was damaged. After receiving Displacement Assistance, applicants may be eligible to receive Rental Assistance.

Displacement Assistance: Displacement Assistance is money to help with immediate housing needs if you cannot live in your home after the hurricane. This money can be used to stay in a hotel, with family and friends or for other options while you look for temporary housing. Displacement Assistance is a one-time payment. If you have used your Displacement Assistance and you still have housing needs, you can ask for Rental Assistance from FEMA by calling FEMA at 800-621-3362 or visiting a Disaster Recovery Center.

Rental Assistance: Rental Assistance can help owners and renters pay for somewhere to live while repairs are being made or permanent housing is identified. The initial award for Rental Assistance may cover up to two months of rent. After the initial award, applicants can request Continued Rental Assistance.

How to Apply: Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov, use the FEMA App, visit a Disaster Recovery Center or call 800-621-3362 any day. Multilingual operators are available. If you use a relay service, captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service. 

Clean and Sanitize Assistance: If your home was damaged but you can live in it safely, FEMA may be able to provide up to $300 in one-time financial assistance to help with cleanup. This assistance is for eligible homeowners and renters. You may qualify for FEMA assistance if you meet the following criteria:

• Your pre-disaster primary home must be in one of the counties designated for Individual Assistance for Hurricane Helene.
• Based on a FEMA inspection, your home has disaster damage; or if you are a renter, the inspection noted clean-up actions are needed or have already been done.
• If you have already cleaned up, save your receipts from any supplies, materials or paid help.
• The damage is not covered by your insurance.
• FEMA determines your disaster-damaged primary residence is safe to occupy.

How to Apply

Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov, use the FEMA App, or call 800-621-3362. Lines are open every day and help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service. For an accessible video on how to apply for assistance go to FEMA Accessible: Applying for Individual Assistance - YouTube.

If You Applied for FEMA Assistance Previously: If you applied for FEMA assistance at any point in time, you must apply separately for assistance after each natural disaster. You will need to describe what damage occurred and on what date, to ensure federal disaster assistance from two storms is not duplicated. If you were affected by any Hurricane, please provide the date of your most recent damage.