August 12, 2024 • 10 mins
Newsradio WFLA's Read Shepherd talks with Nate Custer from FEMA about applying for help after Hurricane Debby. 10 Florida counties, including Manatee and Sarasota, have been declared major disaster areas, and people with flood or other damage can apply for federal assistance.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is Reed Shepherd NewsRadio WFLA, and this is Beyond
the News. In the aftermath of Hurricane Debbie, ten counties
in Florida, including Manatee and Sarasota, are under a federal
major disaster declaration. So what exactly does that mean and
how can people get help from FEMA. We are joined
(00:20):
by FEMA spokesman Nathan Custer this afternoon. Nathan, thank you
so much for coming on the program today. We really
appreciate it. I guess the best place to start is
simply what exactly is FEMA's role in a major disaster declaration,
specifically in west central Florida and the big men, what
are you guys doing from this point on.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
What we're doing is accepting registrations from people who live
in one of these ten declared counties who had damages
from Hurricane Debbie. And if they have already registered let's
say with the Red Cross or with their local emergency management,
that does not put them in the FEMA system. They
(01:03):
need to register with THEMA. There's three ways to do that.
You can call eight hundred sixty two one three three
six two. If you can get online, go to Disaster
Assistance dot Gov. Disaster assistance dot goat or if you
can download an app on your smartphone, download the FEMA
(01:24):
app and you can use that to register. We need
to hear hear from you who you are, where you are,
and get you into the system to be considered for
some possible help.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
So what sort of help can FEMA offer.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
It can be temporary lodging or housing help. It can
be emergency home repairs. It can be what we call
special assistants, particularly people who are really short on cash,
money for food, from medicine, for diapers, things like that
(02:00):
are essential needs. We can also look at things on
a case by case basis, like replacing a damage to
or destroyed automobile tools that people who are self employed lost,
people who need those tools for their work, a computer
for a child, things like that that are matters of
(02:26):
a personal property. We look at all these on a
case by case basis.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
It's probably important to mention here, I think, Nathan, that
FEMA cannot duplicate anything that a homeowner may have, in
other words, flood insurance or rental insurance or something like that.
There can't be any duplication here. Am I correct?
Speaker 2 (02:47):
That is correct? Now, some people are going to be underinsured,
or they may not have renter's insurance. In that case,
we can consider some help able to duplicate what people
get from insurance. But we always say apply for the
insurance and also, at the same time or right thereafter,
(03:11):
register with FEMA, and we'll see what we can do,
all right.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
So what does someone need as they are applying for
help from FEMA?
Speaker 2 (03:21):
A phone number that's current where you can be contacted.
Some people may be staying with family or friends. It
may be let their normal phone number, but a number
that we can reach you. The address at the time
the hurricane Debbie struck, and address where you are now staying.
If you've had to leave your home, we need your
(03:42):
Social Security number. We need a general list of the
damage and losses. We need if you have direct deposit,
we need banking information because if you are given a grant,
award of the grant by FEMA and have direct deposit
that can be sent directly to you you and you
don't have to wait for a check to come in
(04:02):
the mail. And the male in some of these disasters
may not be happening because the letter carriers can't get
into these neighborhoods.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Now is FEMA on the job already down here? Are
you all ready? Do you already have people in Manatee
Sarasota County.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
We do that. We have people who are going door
to door in two person teams in these affected neighborhoods.
It's a form of reaching out to people, getting the
word to those who've been affected. And these are these
people from FEMA. They will have a FEMA photo I
D and they can answer general questions about what types
(04:44):
of FEMA assistants are available. They can also register people
right on the spot. They have tablets with them and
can take care of the registration. So this is just
a way to reach out to people who may for
one reason or another and not be aware that they
have to register with FEMA.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
All right, We're talking with Nathan Custer from FEMA in
the aftermath of Hurricane Debbie, especially in Manatee and Sarasota Counties.
In Sarasota and Nathan, the biggest problem, or one of
the biggest problems, seems to be a lot of flooding
in areas where people were not in a FEMA flood
zone to begin with, suffered extensive flooding and did not
(05:28):
have flood insurance. What type of help is available for them.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
We look at it all on a case by case basis.
If they were affected, the types of assistance could be
some emergency home repairs or at least a start on
cleaning up, maybe the cost of removing drywall. Water gets
into drywall. The next thing that happens is mold and mildew.
(05:57):
So it's again on a case by case basis. When
people register, they're going to get a phone call from
a FEMA inspector. He or she is going to make
an appointment to meet them at their residents and take
a look at just what the damage is, and then
they will then send in up the chain a form
(06:18):
that shows what's there and what types of assistance may
be available. We are not going to make people totally
whole again who've had the catastrophic damage. But I can
mention read that we work closely with the SBA, the
Small Business Administration, because they do low interest disaster recovery loans,
(06:41):
and these are with interest rates in the neighborhood of
two plus percent. They can be taken out for a
long period of time to keep the payments down. So
we work closely with the SBA. So it may well
be that the combination of a FEMA grant, which is
money that does not have to be repaid, and the
low interest SBA loan can be a big boost for people.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
One other thing you're talking about is being alert to
fraud sort of what can happen here, because I've been
told by a couple of people here in the state
of Florida, you know, be careful, don't sign anything. You
know there are people out there that are going to
be flocking to the state of Florida to take advantage
(07:27):
of this situation. What should people be looking out.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
For, Well, be aware that people may try to steal
your personal information through fraud or ID identity theft after
Debbie and they will try to low offered for let's say,
fifty dollars. They'll tell the resident, I can handle your
(07:53):
FEMA application. It's complicated that I know how to do it,
So give me fifty dollars so we don't charge anything
for people to apply. If that happens, If you get
someone come to your door or calling and you can't
really verify who they are, they don't have a person,
(08:14):
they don't have a female ID card, call your local
law enforcement. You've also got to watch out for fly
by night contractors if you will who they may may
not be locally licensed and bonded. If you get anyone
who's a contractor, don't put forward any big down payment
before work begins. Get a written contract, but also check
(08:37):
with your local government as to whether this contractor is legitimate.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
All right, One other thing before I let you go, Nathan,
is the fact that there are ten counties in Florida
right now that are under a federal disaster declaration. Let's
say for a moment, I live in Penels, which is
not at the moment under a disaster declaration, yet I
still have some damage. Is there any help for me
from FEMA?
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Your local emergency management has probably made a request for
us to go along with local emergency managers and take
a look at what has happened, do a damage assessment
tour some of the areas. That has to be established
that the damage is significant enough to warrant a presidential
(09:28):
disaster declaration or in this case, to add on a
particular county to those already declared. So we're not ruling
out that there could be some add on counties. It's
a process that local and State Emergency Management are in
tune with and are trying to establish the level that
(09:51):
occurred in those localities.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
All right, well, well thought. Thank you very much for
joining us today. Nathan Custer from FEMA talking about the
kinds of help available from FEMA in the aftermath of
Hurricane Debbie. Again, Nathan, thank you so much for joining us.
I'm Reed Shepherd on NewsRadio WFLA, and this is beyond
the news.
This is Reed Shepherd NewsRadio WFLA, and this is Beyond
the News. In the aftermath of Hurricane Debbie, ten counties
in Florida, including Manatee and Sarasota, are under a federal
major disaster declaration. So what exactly does that mean and
how can people get help from FEMA. We are joined
(00:20):
by FEMA spokesman Nathan Custer this afternoon. Nathan, thank you
so much for coming on the program today. We really
appreciate it. I guess the best place to start is
simply what exactly is FEMA's role in a major disaster declaration,
specifically in west central Florida and the big men, what
are you guys doing from this point on.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
What we're doing is accepting registrations from people who live
in one of these ten declared counties who had damages
from Hurricane Debbie. And if they have already registered let's
say with the Red Cross or with their local emergency management,
that does not put them in the FEMA system. They
(01:03):
need to register with THEMA. There's three ways to do that.
You can call eight hundred sixty two one three three
six two. If you can get online, go to Disaster
Assistance dot Gov. Disaster assistance dot goat or if you
can download an app on your smartphone, download the FEMA
(01:24):
app and you can use that to register. We need
to hear hear from you who you are, where you are,
and get you into the system to be considered for
some possible help.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
So what sort of help can FEMA offer.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
It can be temporary lodging or housing help. It can
be emergency home repairs. It can be what we call
special assistants, particularly people who are really short on cash,
money for food, from medicine, for diapers, things like that
(02:00):
are essential needs. We can also look at things on
a case by case basis, like replacing a damage to
or destroyed automobile tools that people who are self employed lost,
people who need those tools for their work, a computer
for a child, things like that that are matters of
(02:26):
a personal property. We look at all these on a
case by case basis.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
It's probably important to mention here, I think, Nathan, that
FEMA cannot duplicate anything that a homeowner may have, in
other words, flood insurance or rental insurance or something like that.
There can't be any duplication here. Am I correct?
Speaker 2 (02:47):
That is correct? Now, some people are going to be underinsured,
or they may not have renter's insurance. In that case,
we can consider some help able to duplicate what people
get from insurance. But we always say apply for the
insurance and also, at the same time or right thereafter,
(03:11):
register with FEMA, and we'll see what we can do,
all right.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
So what does someone need as they are applying for
help from FEMA?
Speaker 2 (03:21):
A phone number that's current where you can be contacted.
Some people may be staying with family or friends. It
may be let their normal phone number, but a number
that we can reach you. The address at the time
the hurricane Debbie struck, and address where you are now staying.
If you've had to leave your home, we need your
(03:42):
Social Security number. We need a general list of the
damage and losses. We need if you have direct deposit,
we need banking information because if you are given a grant,
award of the grant by FEMA and have direct deposit
that can be sent directly to you you and you
don't have to wait for a check to come in
(04:02):
the mail. And the male in some of these disasters
may not be happening because the letter carriers can't get
into these neighborhoods.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Now is FEMA on the job already down here? Are
you all ready? Do you already have people in Manatee
Sarasota County.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
We do that. We have people who are going door
to door in two person teams in these affected neighborhoods.
It's a form of reaching out to people, getting the
word to those who've been affected. And these are these
people from FEMA. They will have a FEMA photo I
D and they can answer general questions about what types
(04:44):
of FEMA assistants are available. They can also register people
right on the spot. They have tablets with them and
can take care of the registration. So this is just
a way to reach out to people who may for
one reason or another and not be aware that they
have to register with FEMA.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
All right, We're talking with Nathan Custer from FEMA in
the aftermath of Hurricane Debbie, especially in Manatee and Sarasota Counties.
In Sarasota and Nathan, the biggest problem, or one of
the biggest problems, seems to be a lot of flooding
in areas where people were not in a FEMA flood
zone to begin with, suffered extensive flooding and did not
(05:28):
have flood insurance. What type of help is available for them.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
We look at it all on a case by case basis.
If they were affected, the types of assistance could be
some emergency home repairs or at least a start on
cleaning up, maybe the cost of removing drywall. Water gets
into drywall. The next thing that happens is mold and mildew.
(05:57):
So it's again on a case by case basis. When
people register, they're going to get a phone call from
a FEMA inspector. He or she is going to make
an appointment to meet them at their residents and take
a look at just what the damage is, and then
they will then send in up the chain a form
(06:18):
that shows what's there and what types of assistance may
be available. We are not going to make people totally
whole again who've had the catastrophic damage. But I can
mention read that we work closely with the SBA, the
Small Business Administration, because they do low interest disaster recovery loans,
(06:41):
and these are with interest rates in the neighborhood of
two plus percent. They can be taken out for a
long period of time to keep the payments down. So
we work closely with the SBA. So it may well
be that the combination of a FEMA grant, which is
money that does not have to be repaid, and the
low interest SBA loan can be a big boost for people.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
One other thing you're talking about is being alert to
fraud sort of what can happen here, because I've been
told by a couple of people here in the state
of Florida, you know, be careful, don't sign anything. You
know there are people out there that are going to
be flocking to the state of Florida to take advantage
(07:27):
of this situation. What should people be looking out.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
For, Well, be aware that people may try to steal
your personal information through fraud or ID identity theft after
Debbie and they will try to low offered for let's say,
fifty dollars. They'll tell the resident, I can handle your
(07:53):
FEMA application. It's complicated that I know how to do it,
So give me fifty dollars so we don't charge anything
for people to apply. If that happens, If you get
someone come to your door or calling and you can't
really verify who they are, they don't have a person,
(08:14):
they don't have a female ID card, call your local
law enforcement. You've also got to watch out for fly
by night contractors if you will who they may may
not be locally licensed and bonded. If you get anyone
who's a contractor, don't put forward any big down payment
before work begins. Get a written contract, but also check
(08:37):
with your local government as to whether this contractor is legitimate.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
All right, One other thing before I let you go, Nathan,
is the fact that there are ten counties in Florida
right now that are under a federal disaster declaration. Let's
say for a moment, I live in Penels, which is
not at the moment under a disaster declaration, yet I
still have some damage. Is there any help for me
from FEMA?
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Your local emergency management has probably made a request for
us to go along with local emergency managers and take
a look at what has happened, do a damage assessment
tour some of the areas. That has to be established
that the damage is significant enough to warrant a presidential
(09:28):
disaster declaration or in this case, to add on a
particular county to those already declared. So we're not ruling
out that there could be some add on counties. It's
a process that local and State Emergency Management are in
tune with and are trying to establish the level that
(09:51):
occurred in those localities.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
All right, well, well thought. Thank you very much for
joining us today. Nathan Custer from FEMA talking about the
kinds of help available from FEMA in the aftermath of
Hurricane Debbie. Again, Nathan, thank you so much for joining us.
I'm Reed Shepherd on NewsRadio WFLA, and this is beyond
the news.
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