October 17, 2018
Well that happened, so what now?
As the relief and recover efforts get underway in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael, the task for individual residents and homeowners is undoubtedly a daunting task. From those simply displaced and trying to get back to the area to those who have experienced catastrophic loss, the path forward may seem muddy and unclear. The intent of this post is to help explain who will have responsibility at different points of the process and to help guide residents to legitimate resources. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list but rather a good jumping off point to connect with legitimate resources and programs as you start to dig out.
Phase 1 – Stabilization
First Responder – FEMA
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is your immediate go to in the direct aftermath of the event. FEMA has the resources to mobilize on a large scale to stabilize the area in the immediate aftermath of the storm. It is important to get registered with FEMA to gain access to potential federal relief but the State of Florida will, most likely, be the long term administrative agency for ongoing relief and recovery programming and funding. FEMA will be a good starting point but I would not anticipate long term participation. The goal of the agency is to stabilize the situation and then hand off to state and local authorities. The following link will take you to the FEMA Hurricane Michael page with further links to programs and resources:
Phase 2 – Relief
Primary Agency – Florida Division of Emergency Management
The state level agency coordinating efforts is the Florida Division of Emergency Management. The Hurricane Michael page has a wealth of information, resources and public notices specific to your area. This site also links to many local and public sector recovery programs and resources:
Florida Dept of Emergency Management Relief Page
Application for Disaster Assistance Page
Phase 3 – Recovery
Primary Agency – Florida Division of Emergency Management and Your Insurance Provider
Once immediate needs are met and the bulk of cleanup is complete, the real work starts on your part. Particularly if you’ve experienced catastrophic loss, the next several months and potentially years will be a challenging time. One of your first steps is to get in touch with your insurance agent and start the claims process. Additionally, as Federal disaster money is allocated, the state will most likely be the administrative agency and may set up special programs for the storm. Stay engaged, especially if you have losses that are not covered by your homeowner’s insurance. The primary resource for Florida Recovery information is:
Florida Dept of Emergency Management Recovery Page
The following link is to a publication of the LSU Agricultural Center and contains good information about assessment, clean up and many other topics you may encounter as you embark on your recovery effort:
The following link is a publication of the Florida Division of Consumer Services describing the insurance claim timeline:
Phase 4 – Rebuilding for Resiliency
If there is one foot stomper it is this – be patient. Yes, the disaster happened literally overnight but the recovery is going to be a long process. If you are in a temporary situation, it would be reasonable to expect to be out of your home for over a year depending on the level of damage. The immediate urge is to get things patched up quickly and get back to “normal” as quickly as possible. I would strongly advise caution and to take the time to conduct your due diligence as you select partners to assist in damage repairs or rebuilding. While most contractors are going to be reputable, there may be a glut of either well meaning or opportunists offering to provide services without experience or qualifications. If you wouldn’t hire the first person off the street beforehand, this is definitely not the time to start. Florida has a licensure requirement for contractors – this should be the first question you ask anyone you interview to assist in repair work. The following link can help you verify the license of a potential builder:
Please stay tuned – I will next article will be an in-depth discussion of how to plan, specify and execute repair or rebuilding. Please feel free to contact me if you have any particular questions!