FEMA
- FEMA Urban Search and Rescue. Six FEMA Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) teams were deployed in both Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands with more task forces arriving over the weekend. The task forces are from Virginia, Florida, California, New York, and Massachusetts.
- Federal Response Efforts. FEMA and other federal agencies are working to address the needs of people in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- The U.S. Department of Transportation successfully opened five airports in Puerto Rico and two in the Virgin Islands. This will allow military and relief flights to bring in commodities and other resources.
- The U.S. Department of Energy is working with other agencies to restore power on the islands.
- The FDA is working with pharmaceutical and device companies with manufacturing sites in Puerto Rico to prevent shortages of medically necessary supplies and drugs.
U.S. Virgin Islands
- Amendment Number 1. The Disaster Declaration has been amended enabling households on the islands of St. John and St. Thomas to apply for Individual Assistance (IA). Households were already eligible for IA as a result of the disaster declaration for Hurricane Irma.
Local Perspective
- More Assistance in PR. Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello is asking for additional search-and-rescue help and humanitarian resources to quicken recovery from the “complete devastation” left by Hurricane Maria.
HURRICANE IRMA
FEMA
Florida
- By the Numbers: (As of Monday morning)
- 144,407 Individual Assistance (IA) applications approved*
- $124,387,092 Individual & Household Program (IHP) approved*
- $56,284,303 Housing Assistance (HA) approved*
- $68,102,790 Other Needs Assistance (ONA) approved*
*Assistance dollars approved but not necessarily disbursed.
- Disaster Recovery Centers. A DRC opened at Kendall Campus in Miami. A short-term DRC has opened in Immokalee but will close on Wednesday, September 27, and a short-term DRC opened in Sarasota but will close on September 28. The latter two DRCs are mobile disaster resources that allow federal, state and local officials to maximize their reach to as many affected areas and survivors as possible.
U.S. Virgin Islands
- Blue Roof Installed. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Operation Blue Roof installed their first residential temporary roof on Saturday. This roof is made of fiber-reinforced blue plastic sheeting to cover damaged areas until permanent repairs can be made.
Georgia
- Disaster Recovery Centers. Two DRCs have opened to assist Hurricane Irma survivors in Georgia: one in Tybee Island and the other in Kingsland.
Local Perspectives
- RV Park in the Keys. Owners of the Sea Horse RV Park in the Florida Keys have asked residents to evacuate due to safety concerns. Residents have few resources for relocation and worry that developers will use this as an opportunity to buy the trailer and RV park, taking away some of the only affordable housing in the Keys.
- In Immokalee. In Immokalee, many residents continue to live in severely damaged trailers. Local officials and FEMA are still assessing damages and the number of people left homeless. Plans for temporary housing are not finalized.
HURRICANE HARVEY
FEMA
- By the Numbers: (As of Monday morning)
- 213,062 Individual Assistance (IA) applications approved*
- $407,677,861 Individual & Household Program (IHP) approved*
- $276,665,092 Housing Assistance (HA) approved*
- $131,012,769 Other Needs Assistance (ONA) approved*
- $203,906,217 Public Assistance Grants (PA) obligated** all of which are for Emergency Work (Categories A-B)
*Assistance dollars approved but not necessarily disbursed.
**Funds made available to the State via electronic transfer following FEMA's final review and approval of Public Assistance projects.
- Extension of TSA. The Transitional Sheltering Assistance program (TSA), which provides funding for survivors to stay at a hotel while searching for housing, has been extended to October 10. More than 40,000 families were using this program, but that number has decreased to 24,000.
- Disaster Recovery Centers. Two new DRCs opened in Refugio and Klein.
Texas General Land Office
- The Texas General Land Office (GLO) and FEMA have finalized an agreement outlining how to address disaster assistance housing needs. Their new website provides information for individuals and local governments about disaster assistance and housing options.
- Multi-Family Lease and Repair: Direct assistance to repair or improve existing multi-family housing such as apartments in order to provide more housing for survivors.
- Direct Leasing: Enables local governments to lease a property that typically would not be available to the public, such as corporate lodging.
- Manufactured Housing Options: Direct housing places manufactured housing units on private land or commercial pads.
- Partial Repair and Essential Power for Sheltering (PREPS): provides minor repairs to homes in locations with limited housing options.
- Direct Assistance for Limited Home Repair: Program provides partial repairs to homes with significant damages.