Renters & homeowners can apply for FEMA assistance after Hurricane Idalia

President Biden has approved a major disaster declaration in 13 Florida counties and three Georgia counties to help local recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia.

The category 3 storm first made landfall in Florida’s remote Big Bend region on August 30 before sweeping north into Georgia. According to Moody's Analytics, the initial damage estimate is between $9 billion and $20 billion.

While these losses are substantial, they fortunately do not reach the catastrophic levels seen during Hurricane Ian's rampage last September, which caused $112 billion in damage and claimed 150 lives.

Property managers in affected counties can help landlords and tenants apply for federal aid, which may include rental assistance for temporary housing, reimbursement for hotel costs, repair funds for insured homeowners, and financial support for some uninsured or under-insured disaster-related expenses.

Individuals and business owners can get help at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 1-800-621-3362, or by using the FEMA app.

More disaster recovery headlines

The property manager’s playbook for hurricane season – PayProp

Georgians should be alert to fraud after Hurricane Idalia – FEMA

Insurance issues could pose long-term problems – Florida Realtors