Santa Rosa County Reports More Than 2,000 Structures Damaged by Hurricane Isaias

MILTON, Fla. — The number of structures affected by Hurricane Isaias in Santa Rosa County has surpassed 2,000 as damage-assessment teams continue documenting the storm's destruction.

According to the county's Wednesday evening update, more than 80 structures have been classified as destroyed.

Approximately 300 sustained major damage, while more than 600 were classified as having minor damage.

Officials say more than 2,000 structures have been affected overall, and assessments are continuing.

The hurricane also left an enormous debris-removal operation ahead.

Santa Rosa County now estimates approximately 1.5 million cubic yards of storm debris will need to be removed.

The estimated cost of that operation is $23 million.

The county began its first pass of storm-debris collection Wednesday, with multiple collection passes planned.

Residents should place eligible storm debris along public rights-of-way, keeping vegetation separate from construction and demolition material.

County officials are also asking property owners to report hurricane damage through the Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser's website.

Residents can search for their property and select the damage-reporting option.

Those reports will help document losses as officials pursue additional state and federal disaster assistance.

The county's damage figures remain preliminary and could change as assessments continue.

Foley cuts nonprofit permit fees by half

The Foley City Council has approved an ordinance that slashes fees for nonprofits seeking permits in the Alabama city. According to a city news release reported by WKRG News 5, nonprofits will now pay 50% less for zoning permits, building permits, and land development permits. The fee reduction is intended to ease the financial burden on nonprofits operating in Foley, though the city did not specify an implementation date or which organizations qualify under the new ordinance.

Escambia County Meets FEMA Public Assistance Threshold; Individual Assistance Still Pending

PENSACOLA, Fla. — Escambia County has reached an important milestone in its effort to secure federal assistance following Hurricane Isaias.

County officials announced Wednesday that joint damage-assessment teams have determined Escambia meets the threshold for FEMA Public Assistance.

That program provides reimbursement for eligible government expenses associated with disaster response and recovery.

Those expenses can include debris removal, emergency protective measures and repairs to damaged public infrastructure.

However, the county's announcement does not mean federal assistance has been approved for individual homeowners.

FEMA Individual Assistance is a separate program that can provide eligible households with assistance for disaster-related needs.

County officials said Wednesday evening that assessment teams were continuing to document residential damage throughout Escambia County and the City of Pensacola.

Once the assessments are complete, the information will be forwarded to the state to support a request for a presidential major disaster declaration.

Both Public Assistance and Individual Assistance require the appropriate federal declaration before funding can move forward.

Escambia County previously estimated approximately $64 million in public damage and recovery costs following Hurricane Isaias.

Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves also reported that more than $70 million in private-property damage had been documented within the city as of Tuesday evening.

Those figures represent different categories of damage and should not be confused with approved federal reimbursement amounts.

County officials are encouraging residents to continue reporting hurricane damage through the county's official damage-reporting system.

Reporting damage helps document the community's losses but is not the same as applying for FEMA assistance.