(WAUCHULA, Fla.) – The musty odor of mold and water damage remains prominent inside some mobile homes in Wauchula, Fla., where Hurricane Ian’s floodwaters swelled the Peace River and sent water rushing into nearby mobile homes.
Some of those inhabitants are low-income families; folks who are now grappling with the - oftentimes pricey - path to recovery.
To help Hurricane Ian survivors navigate storm recovery, a Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. disaster response team has teamed up with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide direct services to those impacted in Wauchula, Fla. on Saturday, Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. – noon at Central Florida Healthcare, 807 Cobb Court.
The Wauchula Disaster Relief event will distribute food and water, and provide assistance from various social services, governmental agencies, and community non-profit organizations, including Hardee Help Center, Beth-El Farmworker Ministry, Redlands Christian Migrant Association, Farmworker Association of Florida, East Coast Migrant Head Start, Central Florida Healthcare, FEMA, and SBA-Small Business Administration.
“In the wake of any disaster, families also often need the assistance of a lawyer to overcome barriers to recovery,” said Denise Sawyer, Marketing and Communications Director. “As the frequency and severity of disasters continues to rise, FRLS lawyers play a critical role in providing free civil legal aid to qualifying residents in disaster-ravaged areas to ensure vital legal services are accessible, comprehensive, and responsive.”
FRLS attorneys may provide FREE legal counseling, advice and when appropriate and necessary, full representation in the following types of disaster cases (based on qualifications):
• FEMA assistance and FEMA appeals
• Help with insurance claims for property damage, and loss of personal property
• Landlord disputes
• Property ownership disputes
• Help with home repair contracts and contractors
• Questions about consumer scams and consumer protection matters
• Assistance replacing legal documents lost in a storm
• Help completing an application for disaster loans and grants and assistance
• Applying for Disaster Food Assistance
• Help with FEMA Notice of Potential Debt recoupment letters
• and other disaster related legal issues
This weekend, FEMA will provide on-site registration in three languages: English, Spanish and Haitian Creole.
It’s important to know what assistance survivors may qualify for.
What assistance does FEMA provide?
▪ Lodging Expense Reimbursement for hotel expenses; this is for uninsured or underinsured applicants who could not return to their home due to hurricane-related damage. Keep copies of receipts.
▪ Home Repair/Replacement Assistance for disaster losses not already covered by another source.
▪ Rental Assistance for alternative housing if you can no longer occupy your primary residence due to disaster-
related damage.
▪ Personal Property Assistance to repair or replace essential, uninsured personal property damaged by Hurricane Ian.
▪ Transportation Assistance for primary vehicles damaged by the disaster.
▪ Medical and Dental Assistance for uninsured medical and dental needs or losses caused by Hurricane Ian.
▪ Funeral Assistance related to a death attributed directly or indirectly as a result of the hurricane.
Those who have not yet applied for assistance, but wish to do so, are urged to bring their Social Security Number, insurance information, damage information, financial information (including annual household income), contact information, and banking information.
