Broward County Federal Aid Application Deadline Just Two Weeks Away

Broward County homeowners and renters still recovering from the historic April 2023 flooding are running out of time to seek federal help. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has set a firm deadline of Tuesday, June 27, 2023 for survivors to apply for individual disaster assistance, meaning residents have roughly two weeks left to get their paperwork in.

The assistance is tied to Major Disaster Declaration DR-4709-FL, which President Biden approved on April 27, 2023, following Governor Ron DeSantis's request. The declaration covers the severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding that battered Broward County from April 12 through April 14, 2023, when parts of Fort Lauderdale and surrounding communities recorded more than two feet of rain in a single day, producing some of the worst urban flooding the county has ever seen.

Eligible survivors in Broward County can apply for FEMA Individual Assistance, which may cover grants for temporary lodging, basic home repairs not covered by insurance, replacement of essential personal property, and other serious disaster-related expenses. Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration are also available for homeowners, renters, businesses, and certain nonprofits to cover losses not reimbursed by insurance or other sources.

There are three ways to register with FEMA before the June 27 cutoff: online at DisasterAssistance.gov, through the FEMA mobile app, or by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. Eastern time. Multilingual operators are available, and those who use a relay service such as video relay service (VRS) or captioned telephone service should provide FEMA the specific number assigned to them.

Before applying, FEMA recommends that survivors first file a claim with their insurance provider, because federal disaster assistance cannot duplicate insurance payments but can help cover uninsured or underinsured losses. When applying, residents should have their Social Security number, insurance policy information, a description of the damage, a current mailing address and phone number, and a bank account routing number for direct-deposit grants.

FEMA has already begun winding down its in-person support in the area. According to the agency, the Disaster Recovery Centers that opened in Broward County following the disaster declaration are closing as the application deadline approaches, so survivors who prefer face-to-face help should plan accordingly and not wait until the final days.

In addition to FEMA Individual Assistance, the disaster declaration unlocked other programs for affected residents. Disaster Unemployment Assistance was made available for workers, including self-employed and gig workers, whose jobs or income were directly affected by the flooding; the DUA application deadline for Broward County was May 31, 2023, and has since passed. Broward County was also designated for FEMA Public Assistance, which reimburses state and local governments and certain nonprofits for emergency response costs and repairs to public infrastructure; the deadline for local agencies to submit Requests for Public Assistance was extended to June 9, 2023.

Residents who have already applied and received a determination letter from FEMA but disagree with the decision still have options. Applicants have 60 days from the date of their determination letter to file an appeal, even if that appeal is filed after the June 27 registration deadline. Common reasons applications are initially denied include missing documentation, unverified occupancy, or insurance settlements that have not yet been finalized, all of which can often be resolved through an appeal.

With just under two weeks remaining, local officials and nonprofit partners, including the Long-Term Recovery Coalition of Broward, are urging anyone with unmet disaster needs to apply even if they are not sure whether they will qualify. Registering with FEMA is free, and it is the gateway to other forms of recovery help that may become available later, including referrals to voluntary agencies that can assist with gaps insurance and FEMA do not cover.