Federal disaster declaration for Broward approved, easing way for financial help
FORT LAUDERDALE - President Joe Biden has approved the disaster declaration requested by the city of Fort Lauderdale one day after Mayor Dean Trantalis visited the White House to request federal funding.
"We're very pleased that our efforts in Washington have brought this about," the mayor said during a morning news conference outside Fort Lauderdale City Hall, which also suffered flooding damage during the storm two weeks ago. "We met with a number of officials."
In a written statement, the White House said the funding will include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.
Federal funding is also available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding in Broward County, according to the statement.
"This timely response by the President will help unleash temporary housing, home repairs, and property loans for our families, and it extends a helping hand to businesses eager to rebuild from the effects of this natural disaster. Only if we unite with a true federal, state, and local effort, can we get our Broward community fully back up on its feet," said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz in a statement.
More than 800 homes in Fort Lauderdale had a foot and a half of floodwater rush in after that record-breaking rainstorm on April 12th. Even the Fort Lauderdale city hall was flooded. The building is closed indefinitely after 8 feet of water affected all the infrastructure in the basement.
Edgewood homeowner Patricia Russell told CBS News Miami's Peter D'Oench that she is still trying to recover after the flooding damaged every room in her home. "I had a few feet of water in every room up to here. I have never had flooding like this before. I have had to be creative, putting a blowup bed here and hanging stuff in another closet. All the cupboards will have to be replaced. I am numb. I don't know how I feel. I have lived in this home more than 50 years and have never seen this. I am grateful for the federal help. I will have to see how I can apply. It is like we lost everything. My stove doesn't work. My hot water doesn't work. My dryer doesn't work."
Nearby, on S.W. 30th St. and 13th Ave. Stephanie Gordillo said, "Our entire floor plan of the house is deteriorated. It smells like mold. I have been living here for 30 years and this has never happened before. I am very grateful for the assistance. If we can have any help, we do appreciate it. We are middle-class citizens."
Gordillo says her family's home is paid off and they have no homeowner's insurance. So she says they are in special need of assistance.
Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-3362, or by using the FEMA app.
Trantalis said he would recommend to the Fort Lauderdale City Commission that the city also provide funding assistance for local residents whose property was damaged during the flooding.
For residents and businesses without flood insurance, many of them had been hoping for the FEMA disaster designation so they could apply for grants.
"We're trying to maximize the relief effort, we're trying to get immediate relief for our people. We feel we made a lot of headway and we're now waiting for FEMA and the White House to sign off on it and we're going to see recovery here in our city," said Trantalis.
Once the FEMA designation is made, flood victims may be able to get reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses like water removal, household items, and hotel costs. They're urged to save their receipts and document the damage to their homes.
Once the designation happens the city will set up a process where flood-impacted residents can sign up for aid.
