Northwest Florida Still Waiting for FEMA Individual Assistance Two Weeks After Isaias

PENSACOLA, FL (NewsRadio 92.3) -- Residents of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties are still waiting to find out whether they will qualify for FEMA Individual Assistance nearly two weeks after Hurricane Isaias devastated portions of Northwest Florida.

Florida has requested a Major Disaster Declaration from the federal government that includes Individual Assistance for residents of eight Northwest Florida counties.

They include Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Gulf, Holmes and Washington counties.

As of Friday morning, the federal government had not approved the request.

That means residents cannot currently apply to FEMA for Hurricane Isaias Individual Assistance.

If approved, Individual Assistance can provide qualifying households with help for certain disaster-related expenses that aren't covered by insurance, including temporary housing and basic home repairs.

The state is separately requesting FEMA Public Assistance for 15 counties. Public Assistance reimburses eligible local governments and other public entities for qualifying expenses including debris removal, emergency protective measures and repairs to damaged public infrastructure.

Local damage assessments demonstrate the scale of the request.

Santa Rosa County reports more than 100 structures destroyed, more than 400 with major damage, more than 1,000 with minor damage and more than 8,000 affected.

Estimated Public Assistance costs in Santa Rosa County have already surpassed $76 million. That figure does not include the City of Milton, which projects its debris-removal operation alone could cost approximately $25 million.

In Escambia County, Pensacola estimates private-property damage inside city limits at $71.7 million while local governments continue assessing damage to public facilities.

Florida officials have said the federal request remains under review.

Meanwhile, state, local and nonprofit recovery programs continue operating.

Multi-Agency Resource Centers in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties are connecting residents with available state and nonprofit programs, but those locations are not FEMA disaster centers.

Escambia begins consolidating its two resource centers into one location this weekend, while Santa Rosa's Milton resource center is scheduled to close next week.