Disaster Recovery News

FEMA has opened a new Disaster Recovery Center in Sanford, Florida to assist Seminole County residents and businesses with disaster recovery efforts in the wake of Tropical Storm Fay.

The center will be staffed with FEMA and State Emergency Response Team disaster recovery specialists as well as representatives from volunteer organizations. The centers are open to residents in the area that have questions about their federal disaster claims, request assistance and talk with recovery specialists about additional needs.

Disaster Recovery Center
Reflections at Hidden Lakes
520 W. Lake Mary Blvd.
Suite 101
Sanford, FL 32773

Read the FEMA press release.

Tropical Storm Fay continues to damage the state of Florida even as it dissipates and moves into other parts of the southeast. Flooding in northern Florida has forced residents out of their homes. Several more inches of rain are expected to fall in other states like Alabama and Georgia over the next few days.

Residents of DeBary, north of Orlando, were ferried from their homes while streets were filled with four feet of water. Residents report that the flood waters were up to people’s doorways and many were forced to leave by boat.

So far Brevard, Monroe, Okeechobee and St. Lucie counties were all declared state of emergencies by the president. Florida Governor Charlie Crist is reporting to residents that it is believed the height of the flooding has ended and is now turning the state’s eyes toward rebuilding and recovery efforts.

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Quick Tips on Florida Insurance Situation

Not having yet reached hurricane strength, Tropical Storm Fay nonetheless continues to pummel Florida with heavy rains and winds. The storm has returned to the east-central mainland after spending several hours offshore in the Atlantic. Fay has dumped 20-30 inches of rain in certain areas forcing President Bush to declare a state of emergency in Florida. Weather experts are predicting another 5 to 10 inches of rain to fall along central and northern Florida, and even in some parts of Georgia and Alabama, over the next day.

Residents are struggling with the damages and dangers the flood waters are causing. The Melbourne area is one of the hardest hit in Florida after receiving over 26 inches of rain so far, causing hundreds of homes to fill with several feet of water. Flood damages in the area are estimated at $12 million dollars.

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President Bush declared Florida a state of emergency and requested federal aid be granted for the state as Tropical Storm Fay continues to cause millions of dollars of flood damage and infrastructure failure. The disaster relief provided by the federal government is meant to help alleviate the suffering caused by the emergency as well as aid in protecting property and public health.

FEMA has already sent out assistance in the form of meals, supplies and emergency response teams. Additionally, the US Coast Guard and US Army Corps of Engineers have sent teams to help those stranded by flood waters.

Read more on the Florida Declaration

Tropical Storm Fay hit the mainland coast of Florida early this morning leaving a wake of damages and power outages for thousands of residents. The storm came ashore at Cape Romano in southwestern Florida and is now making its way through Moore Haven.

The storm, though predicted to become a hurricane by the time it reached Florida, never reached winds over 74 mph and therefore continues to be designated as a tropical storm. Irregardless, residents are feeling its affects. Heavy rains have doused portions of the state and rising temperatures are fueling the expectation that tornadoes may form sporadically.

Currently, side steets and some main roads are flooded and downed trees and powerlines are making many roadways in the towns like Naples untravelable.

Check out the latest on Tropical Storm Fay’s path.