FEMA

Seven months after hurricanes Ian and Nicole battered Volusia County, a handful of residents are a step closer to preventing their homes from flooding when the next storm hits.

It's been six months since the last hurricane hit Central Florida, and many communities are still cleaning up. On top of that, they're seeing major insurance cost hikes — and the latest hit will be flood insurance.

Lisa Chiarizzi says every time it rains, water comes right up to her pool deck. She and her husband, Bruce, bought their house close to the Tomoka River 9 years ago hoping it would be their forever home. Since then, she says it’s flooded three times.

The City of New Smyrna Beach will be elevating nine homes in flood-prone areas to avoid damage.

The deadline is Monday, Feb. 13 for residents in Volusia, Brevard, Flagler, and Lake counties to apply for FEMA assistance as related to Hurricane Nicole.

Kim Fuller with FEMA says about 50% of the people with hurricane damage to their homes qualify for hotel benefits, but only a small portion are using those benefits.

Three Disaster Recovery Centers in Central Florida are permanently closing.

If you still need to apply for FEMA disaster assistance, the deadline is approaching fast.

One million Floridians have already applied for FEMA assistance for Hurricane Ian and are in various stages of being processed.

Thursday marks the final day for anyone impacted by Hurricane Ian to apply for disaster assistance with FEMA.

If you haven’t applied for Hurricane Ian FEMA assistance yet and need to, you have three weeks left to do so.

Disaster Recovery Centers across Florida that remain open to assist people impacted by recent hurricanes Ian and Nicole have posted holiday closures for Christmas and New Year’s, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

With FEMA relief now available for Hurricane Nicole victims in Central Florida's coastal counties, many residents are hoping it will help them get started rebuilding.

If you live on a boat – and it was your primary residence before and during Hurricane Ian – and sustained hurricane damage, you may quality for federal assistance, FEMA recently announced.

Florida homeowners, renters, businesses, and nonprofit groups impacted by Hurricane Ian’s late September fury have received more than $1 billion in super low interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Disaster Assistance, according to a SBA spokesperson.

Florida will have an estimated 2,500 to 3,000 travel trailers available for families in need of short term shelter, the state says.

People impacted by Hurricane Ian have more time to apply for federal disaster assistance.

FEMA announced that, at the request of the State of Florida, those impacted by Hurricane Ian now have additional time to apply for federal disaster assistance.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the launch of the Unite Florida Recovery Portal to connect Floridians impacted by Hurricane Ian to important recovery resources, including housing support.

Volusia County officials announced that the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center will reopen on Monday, Nov. 14. to those who were impacted by Hurricane Ian.

Flagler County announced that it has finished its initial assessment for Hurricane Nicole's impacts, which caused approximately $23.7 million in damages.

Residents at the Good Samaritan Village community got a chance to meet with FEMA officials on site.

The deadline to apply for FEMA assistance after Hurricane Ian is less than a month away.

FEMA announced on Saturday, Oct. 29 that is is hiring for more than 300 jobs in Kissimmee, Orlando, Brandon, Fort Myers and Sarasota as the agency continues to help in Hurricane Ian recovery efforts.

The deadline to apply for FEMA disaster assistance because of Hurricane Ian is one month away, and FEMA is holding an event Monday in Volusia County to help residents affected.

Residents of Cypress Landing Apartments in Orlando were able to meet in person with a FEMA representative at Oak Ridge High School on Wednesday.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced new developments in disaster-recovery efforts still underway nearly a month after Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida.

Three weeks after Hurricane Ian hit, neighbors in one Volusia County community pleaded for federal help to elevate their homes to avert more flooding.

The full scope of the damage wrought by Hurricane Ian is still coming into focus across Central Florida, as the estimated costs continue to climb in several counties.

Orange County suffered more than $200 million in damage because of Hurricane Ian, according to a final estimate released Wednesday by the county.

People living at a Volusia County emergency shelter are expressing mixed emotions after finding out the shelter is shutting down.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Saturday held a news conference at Burnt Store Marina, a yachting resort in Punta Gorda.

FEMA’s mobile registration intake center has been traveling around Seminole County since Hurricane Ian struck, offering an easy way to apply for aid. But officials say some residents are getting an unexpected notification.

Thousands of people across Florida are eligible for disaster assistance from FEMA following Hurricane Ian. But if you are applying for help, FEMA wants you to apply for a disaster loan from the Small Business Administration too.

FEMA opened a DRC Wednesday at the Florida Dept. of Health-Volusia office at 1845 Holsonback Drive in Daytona Beach.

A new FEMA Disaster Recovery Center opened in Polk County, giving another resource to people impacted by Hurricane Ian.

Volusia County says damages from Hurricane Ian have reached beyond three-quarters of a million dollars, and these are not the final numbers.

Seminole County leaders have officially opened a new Disaster Recovery Center, aimed at helping people impacted by Hurricane Ian.

U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz (R-District 6) joined anchor Justin Warmoth on "The Weekly" to break down the federal response to Hurricane Ian in Florida and the potential congressional aid package for victims.

Highs Sunday return to the mid 80s.

FEMA and the state of Florida announced the opening of a Disaster Recovery Center in Osceola County on Saturday.

A FEMA Disaster Recovery Center is scheduled to open on Sunday, Oct. 9 at Barnett Park in Orange County, according to government officials.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Friday announced Floridians living in counties deemed eligible for FEMA individual assistance after Hurricane Ian qualify for the now-activated Transitional Sheltering Program.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has been helping thousands of people recover from what Hurricane Ian left behind, though not everyone has been satisfied with the agency's results.

Central Florida residents who need housing help because of Hurricane Ian are eligible for assistance from FEMA.

Seminole County is urging people to apply after contacting their insurance first. They said people should register even if they have received disaster assistance from FEMA before.

Contractors and crews could be seen cleaning up debris in Orange County communities as officials start the process of recovering from Hurricane Ian.

FEMA opened its first Mobile Registration Intake Center in Seminole County Wednesday, as FEMA tries to reach out to people dealing with flooding from Hurricane Ian.

Bruce and Lisa Chiarizzi said they are wet, they are tired and they are angry after their home flooded again during Hurricane Ian.

Insurance agents from State Farm to Citizens Insurance are operating makeshift tent offices in a mall parking lot in Port Charlotte, Florida to help people get funds, food and supplies.

Insurance agents from State Farm to Citizens Insurance are operating makeshift tent offices in a mall parking lot in Port Charlotte to help people get funds, food and supplies.

Individuals and households in Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia counties were deemed eligible for FEMA Individual Assistance amid Hurricane Ian’s continued damage to livelihoods and property statewide.

The Bidens will tour Puerto Rico on Monday and Florida on Wednesday.

The Seminole County Office of Emergency Management held a news briefing Sunday morning to discuss the rising waters and future flood risks to the area’s lakefronts following Ian.

Volusia County officials gave another update to their response efforts on Saturday afternoon as the county continues to clean up after Hurricane Ian moved through Florida.

Floodwaters started receding on Saturday, giving residents a first glimpse at how much damage was done to their homes.

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced on Tuesday that is added more Central Florida counties to the disaster declaration after Hurricane Ian.

Individuals and households in Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia counties were deemed eligible for FEMA Individual Assistance amid Hurricane Ian’s continued damage to livelihoods and property statewide.

Volusia County leaders on Friday held a news conference to discuss the region’s ongoing disaster response to Hurricane Ian

Some Central Florida counties were added to a list of those eligible for FEMA Individual Assistance.

President Joe Biden on Thursday declared a major disaster exists in Florida due to the lashing given to it by what is now Tropical Storm Ian, approving a request made by Gov. DeSantis the day prior.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is releasing the largest update to its mobile application in a decade, the agency announced today.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis accused the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Biden Administration of delaying help to Floridians impacted by recent tornadoes because of “politics.”

It was announced Friday that Orange County would receive a $7.5 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which will fund efforts to prevent future flooding in the county's Orlo Vista neighborhood.

The iconic wooden pier in Flagler Beach has taken a hit and been damaged in several storms and hurricanes over the last decade. City commissioners voted last week to replace it.

FEMA needs to do coordinated tests with the FCC.

Flood insurance helps in the event there is a disaster, declaration or not. FEMA's disaster relief aid is only issued if a disaster declaration is made.

After breaking service records in 2020, FEMA officials urge people to prep for hurricane season ahead of time to ensure safety before, during and after a tropical system.

Orange County residents who are overdue on their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine are encouraged to complete the series as quickly as possible, especially as the two largest sites in the region wind down operations.

The FEMA COVID-19 vaccination site at Valencia College’s West Campus is winding down operations as it plans to shut down in a few weeks. To get ready for the closure, first doses will stop being administered soon.

The FEMA-backed vaccination sites across Florida resumed the use of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine on Sunday but were met with low demand for the shots.

Turnout was so low following an 11-day pause of the Johnson & Johnson single-shot vaccine at a central Florida FEMA-run site that about 90% of the daily supply went unused.

Officials at the FEMA-backed vaccination site located at the Valencia College west campus said operations have been temporarily paused Sunday due to storms.

The vaccination site at Valencia College West Campus is offering first doses of the Pfizer vaccine again following the suspension of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine last week.

This week, first doses of the Pfizer vaccine will be available again at FEMA’s mass vaccination site at Valencia College’s west campus.

FEMA-backed vaccination sites in Florida will once again administer the first shots of the Pfizer vaccine starting next week

The state announced Wednesday that FEMA-backed vaccine sites, like the one in Orlando, will resume administering first doses of the Pfizer vaccine while use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is on pause.

Across Central Florida, officials at COVID-19 vaccination sites scrambled to adjust operations as federal health authorities called for a temporary pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson formula.

Operations at the FEMA-backed vaccination site located at the Valencia College west campus has been delayed Sunday due to severe weather.

FEMA is launching a massive funeral assistance program to help families of the half million Americans who have died from COVID-19 Monday.

Florida will see about 276,000 fewer doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine next week compared to the allocation the state received this week, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Nearly half of new virus infections nationwide are in just five states -- including Florida.

According to CDC tracking data, Florida will be receiving 88% fewer doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine next week.

A Florida state agency says dam safety experts consider the risk of a possible second breach in a leaking wastewater reservoir to be “unsubstantiated.”.

The FEMA-backed vaccine site at Valencia College West Campus reached capacity early on the first day of vaccine eligibility for anyone 16 or older.

Many people spent part of their Easter morning getting vaccinated at the Valencia College west campus FEMA site as it prepares to open up to people 18 and older Monday.

As Floridians begin celebrating their Easter weekend, many of them are just days away from being eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

On Tuesday, the four FEMA-backed vaccinations sites in Florida will no longer offer first doses of the Pfizer vaccine and will switch to Johnson & Johnson.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – The Orange County Convention Center was considered as a potential location to provide shelter for unaccompanied migrant children but because the site is so busy, that won’t be happening. The Orange County Convention Center closed for several months last year due to the coronavirus pandemic but started hosting major events again in July 2020. Since then, dozens of shows have relocated to Central Florida and the convention center has a busy schedule through the summer. In August 2019, the Office of Refugee Resettlement was considering a vacant property on Landstreet Road in Orlando, near the Florida Mall, to be used to shelter unaccompanied migrant children. In that same letter, the ORR said that there were 5,400 unaccompanied migrant children in its care spread out across 120 facilities in 23 states.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Margie Johnson, 70, received the 100,000th dose of the vaccine at the FEMA supported vaccine site at Valencia College West Campus. Johnson said she took the bus from downtown Orlando to get her second dose at the site when she was surprised by workers inside. She got her second vaccine at the site at Valencia College West Campus. Mirna Gomez went to Valencia College on Tuesday morning to avoid any possible rush next week. Organizers at the FEMA site said they will be able to hand out 3,000 first doses of the Pfizer vaccine every day.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Starting Monday, individuals 40 and older are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Florida. John Papa, 40, was among the group getting his first shot of the Pfizer vaccine. The Florida Department of Health clarified on Friday that Floridians who are 16 or older will be eligible for the Pfizer vaccine on April 5 as well. According to the department, the Pfizer vaccine is the exception because it is the only vaccine currently authorized for individuals under the age of 18. AdThe news comes as Florida is scheduled to receive more than 700,000 vaccine doses this week.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Those wishing to get the COVID-19 vaccine at one of the FEMA sites across the state will now have longer to do so. Starting Monday, all four sites will offer 3,000 first doses per day at each of the four locations thanks to Gov. Ron DeSantis asking the Florida Division of Emergency Management and Florida Department of Health to reallocate state vaccine supply to those sites. News 6 has contacted the Florida Department of Health for additional information on when first doses will no longer be offered. So far, 300,000 individuals have gotten inoculated at the FEMA sites.

ORLANDO, Fla. – The federally-supported vaccine sites in Florida, including in Orlando, will continue to offer first dose coronavirus vaccines until April 7, the Florida Division of Emergency Management announced Monday. The FEMA-supported sites in Orlando at Valencia College as well as in Jacksonville, Tampa and Miami were set to begin administering only second doses of the vaccine but will continue to offer 500 first doses of the Pfizer vaccine per day from March 24 to April 7, according to a news release. Beginning April 7, these sites will only offer the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine through April 14. Satellite sites associated with each federally-supported hub site will continue only administering second dose shots between March 24 – April 14. The federally-supported sites were only supposed to be open for eight weeks.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – FEMA opened a new mobile COVID-19 vaccination site in Orange County one day before the state expands eligibility requirements. Cars weaved through the cones as the line moved quickly at the new FEMA mobile vaccine site at the South Orange Youth Sports Complex. The site is offering 500 doses of the Pfizer vaccine Sunday through Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This marks the last couple of days FEMA is administering first doses at the main vaccination site at the west campus of Valencia College and its mobile sites. “Now we’ll go back to those same places three weeks later to give the second doses,” Prudhom said.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – The COVID-19 vaccination site at the west campus at Valencia College in Orlando will only issue second doses of the coronavirus vaccine starting Wednesday, according to the Florida Emergency Management. FEMA officials said the site was designed to remain in the community for eight weeks. The move to second doses only was made to make sure everyone who has already received the first dose at the FEMA site will get their second dose, according to officials. [TRENDING: Woman arrested in hit-run involving sheriff | Gov: Fla. won’t require ‘vaccine passports’ | Girl missing for weeks]AdFlorida is planning to offer the one dose of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine from April 14-28 at the Orlando site, according to FEMA. FEMA said state officials will work with the federal government if these sites should remain open after April 28.

Ron DeSantis said Wednesday, however, that contact tracing efforts are not working. “I think we have to admit that contact tracing has just not worked, OK,” DeSantis said. Contact tracing is a method of controlling COVID-19 by identifying the origin of infection, mapping it and asking people to quarantine. If you have not received your payment yet, the IRS urges you to file your 2020 taxes to get the money. VaccinationsThe Florida Department of Health began releasing a daily report in December on COVID-19 vaccines administered throughout the state.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – In efforts to bring vaccine shots to those who otherwise wouldn’t have access, FEMA on Thursday opened a vaccine satellite site at the Northwest Neighborhood Center in Orlando. Ed Kirk, 65, said he drove from Melbourne to get his vaccine at the Northwest Community Center. Click here to see if you qualify for the vaccine under Orange County guidelines. Individuals can also head to Central Florida’s main FEMA site at Valencia College’s west campus in Orlando. AdFor more information about vaccination sites in Orange County, visit ocfl.net/vaccine.

The health care group includes first responders, such as firefighters and paramedics as well as Department of Health staff. New FEMA vaccine site is now open in Orange CountyFEMA opened a new mobile COVID-19 vaccination site on Sunday to serve people in east Orange County. Leaders said community canvassers will go door-to-door in neighborhoods to help more people get the COVID-19 vaccine. [READ YESTERDAY’S REPORT: Vaccine events focus on school employees as Florida reports 5,244 new COVID-19 cases]Find the state-run COVID-19 dashboard below:Below is a breakdown of Florida COVID-19 data reported by the state on March 14. CasesThe Florida Department of Health reported 3,699 new cases on Sunday, bringing the state’s overall total to 1,976,808 cases since the virus was first detected on March 1, 2020.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – FEMA opened a new mobile COVID-19 vaccination site on Sunday to serve people in east Orange County. The site is at South Econ Park located at 3850 South Econlockhatchee Trail in Orlando. It’s open through Wednesday, March 17 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Alejandro Cuevas and Sonia Fuentes said they spent months trying to get the COVID-19 vaccine. [TRENDING: SpaceX launches 60 Starlink satellites | Weekend vaccine events for OCPS employees | Family speaks after deadly shooting]AdThe walk-up site is administering 500 doses of the Pfizer vaccine daily. He wants his vaccine,” Rosales said.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A new pilot program is launching in Orange County next week. Leaders said community canvassers will go door-to-door in neighborhoods to help more people get the COVID-19 vaccine. County officials said the concern is that some communities don’t have proper access to a vaccination site or may not have enough information. The goal of the program is to have trusted members of the community help get eligible individuals vaccinated inside their homes. AdOrange County Commissioner Mayra Uribe said that the county is actively seeking ways to increase the outreach to neighborhoods where vaccination numbers are low.