(This story was updated to add new information)
Volusia and Flagler are among the more than thirty counties included in the disaster declaration announced by the White House Saturday and approved by President Joe Biden on Friday, and people affected by Hurricane Milton can start applying for aid.
The disaster declaration makes federal recovery funding available to “Brevard, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, DeSoto, Duval, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, and Volusia and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida.”
“Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster,” according to the declaration.
State, tribal and local governments and some private nonprofits also benefit from the disaster declaration. It allows those entities to share the costs of emergency work in the affected areas. That includes debris removal and projects that reduce the risk of damage from future storms.
“Damage assessments are continuing in other areas, and more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are fully completed,” according to the release.
Residents and business owners who sustained losses in Volusia-Flagler or other designated areas can apply for assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or by using the FEMA App. People using a relay service, such as video relay service, can give FEMA the number for that service.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Hurricane Milton aid applications now available for Volusia-Flagler