TAMPA, Fla. — Hurricane Milton brought a wave of destruction through Florida when it made landfall on Wednesday night.
At least six people are dead in the Tampa Bay area, and many people are trying to rebuild their homes and their lives after the storm.
Meanwhile, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) — which has been organizing recovery plans for damage caused by Hurricane Helene — continues to work with agencies at the federal, state and local levels to assess Florida's recovery needs after Milton.
Individual assistance is available for people who own or rent properties damaged by natural disasters. For critical needs, those who apply may be approved for FEMA's Serious Needs Assistance, an initial payment of a maximum of $770 to cover food, medication, water and other essentials.
What to know before applying for FEMA disaster aid
Before applying, FEMA recommends contacting your insurance provider and filing a claim immediately. Although doing this before your application is not a requirement, you will be asked to show FEMA an insurance settlement or denial before receiving some forms of assistance.
When registering, you will be asked for your Social Security number, the address and zip code of the property that was damaged, a current mailing address, a phone number with which you can be reached and any available insurance information.
How to apply for FEMA disaster aid
There are several ways that you can apply for aid.
- Online: You can apply for disaster assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov by clicking on your county, which can be found through a drop-down menu under "List of disasters." You can create an account, upload documents and check your application status from there.
- Through the FEMA app: Applications may also be submitted via the FEMA app, which you can download to your smartphone.
- Via phone: You can also apply for assistance or check the status of your application by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. The Helpline offers various languages, and those who use video relay or similar services can provide FEMA with the number assigned for that service to receive it.
- In person: If you live near a Disaster Recovery Center, you can also apply for aid in person. You can find the nearest center through FEMA.gov/DRC or DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also find centers via the FEMA app or by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.
Claims for damage caused by Helene and/or Milton must be filed separately.
To get connected with local resources, you can call your local 2-1-1 for assistance. If you need shelter, text SHELTER and your zip code to 43362.