Biden approves disaster declaration for 7 Florida counties hit hard by Hurricane Idalia
President Joe Biden on Thursday approved a federal disaster declaration to help state and local recovery efforts after the Category 3 Hurricane Idalia slammed into North Florida’s Big Bend region and caused widespread damage.
DeSantis requests federal disaster declaration for 25 Florida counties after Idalia
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday said the state has requested a federal disaster declaration for 25 counties that were under a hurricane warning while Idalia pressed into the Big Bend as a major storm the day prior.
Volusia residents trying to protect homes from future floods find FEMA grants daunting
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.
Most Disaster Recovery Centers in Florida will close for Christmas, New Year’s, FEMA says
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.
Floridians impacted by Hurricane Ian offered low-interest SBA loans
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.
Applying for FEMA disaster assistance? You should apply for an SBA loan too, FEMA says
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.
Many Floridians now eligible for Transitional Sheltering Assistance after Ian, FEMA says
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.
Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia counties now eligible for FEMA assistance in Ian’s wake
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.
‘It’s concerning:’ Up to 40,000 Orange County residents have skipped second COVID-19 vaccine dose
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.
Orange County Convention Center won’t be used to house unaccompanied migrant children
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.
100,000 vaccinations completed at federally-supported sites in Orlando
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.
40-plus now eligible for COVID vaccine in Florida
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.
Florida’s FEMA COVID-19 vaccination sites get extension to continue operations
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.
Florida FEMA-supported vaccine sites to offer first doses until early April
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.
New FEMA mobile vaccine site opens in Orange County
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.