Trying to apply for FEMA aid after Hurricane Milton? What to know

Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell told Floridians affected by both Hurricanes Helene and Milton that the agency is encouraging them to file two separate applications for disaster relief, acknowledging that compounding expenses may be affecting coastal residents from the back-to-back storms.

Criswell also said Gov. Ron DeSantis has already submitted his request to expedite disaster declaration for Hurricane Milton. FEMA aid for Hurricane Milton specifically can’t be applied for until this happens.

FEMA is also extending a grace period for affected individuals to renew their national flood insurance plans.

Criswell was speaking from Punta Gorda, where surge from the storms has caused significant damage throughout the marina, and where virtually all business remain closed.

”If you’ve been impacted by both events, as an individual, I encourage you to register for assistance for each of those, because you may have had different expenses and costs that you incurred as a result of those storms.“

”They need to register for assistance,” she continued, “registering for both storms, because they will have different needs for each storm, and the dates that they needed things will be important as they do that.”

Criswell said the agency has extended a grace period for those with National Flood Insurance Program policies that had lapsed prior to the storms, to extend those policies and have the damage covered by either hurricane covered.

Those with lapsed policies will have until Nov. 26 for damage related to Helene, and until Dec. 10 for damage related to Milton, to renew their plans.

”I’ve been here on the ground so I could see firsthand what these impacts are,” Criswell said. “I know that the governor has already submitted his request for an expedited disaster declaration for Hurricane Milton. We are going to put that through our system as quickly as possible.”

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