Some Florida homes are still inaccessible due to hurricane-damaged roads, rising water, fallen trees, and other storm-related issues - especially in and around Sanibel Island. You may be eligible for FEMA rental assistance if you cannot access your primary residence due to storm damage.
If you live in one of the 26 counties designated for federal disaster assistance and have not already applied for FEMA assistance, you should call FEMA to apply. The 800-621-3362 line is open every day from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET. Help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as a video relay (VRS), captioned telephone, or other services, give FEMA the number for that service.
If flooding, damage, or debris prevents a FEMA housing inspector from reaching a damaged residence, the inspector will notify FEMA. It’s important you call the FEMA Helpline once your home is accessible.
To be eligible for temporary rental assistance:
- You must first apply with FEMA.
- The home must be your primary residence.
- The home is destroyed, uninhabitable or inaccessible due to Hurricane Ian.
- Insurance proceeds do not fully cover additional living expenses and/or home repairs.
If you need to apply for federal disaster assistance, go online to disasterassistance.gov, use the FEMA mobile app, call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET., or visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC). Several DRCs are operating throughout Florida’s disaster-damaged counties. To find one close to you, go to DRC Locator or floridadisaster.org, or text DRC along with your zip code to 43362.
For the latest information on Florida’s recovery from Hurricane Ian, visit floridadisaster.org/info and fema.gov/disaster/4673. Follow FEMA Region 4 (@femaregion4) / Twitter and at facebook.com/fema.
FEMA’s mission is to help people before, during, and after disasters. All FEMA disaster assistance will be provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, limited English proficiency, or economic status. If you believe your civil rights are being violated, you can call the Civil Rights Resource line at 833-285-7448.
