FEMA Gives Lighter-Hit Fla. Area $21.5M

MIAMI – Local officials agree that hurricane damage to Miami-Dade County this year was light, but the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved more than $20 million in residents’ requests for aid.

Four hurricanes hit Florida in the summer, with Frances and Jeanne toppling some trees and causing some isolated power outages. Officials from the National Weather Service, the county and the city of Miami agree the damage was insignificant.

Yet more than 19,500 Miami-Dade residents have applied to FEMA for financial help with temporary housing, repairs, medical bills and other expenses they claim were brought on by Frances, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Sunday.

As of Friday, FEMA had approved 9,801 of the claims for a total of $21.5 million.

In Indian River County, hard hit by Frances and Jeanne with more than 49,000 houses damaged or destroyed, just under 14,000 residents had received $20.5 million in FEMA help through Friday, $1 million less than Miami-Dade.

“We just pay the claims that come in and are eligible,” said FEMA spokesman Jess Seigal.

Annette Barket, spokeswoman for the American Red Cross of Greater Miami and the Keys, said her organization responded to only about 100 calls for help, all of them requiring only minimal assistance.

“There’s a huge disparity there,” Barket said, comparing the calls for assistance to the number of FEMA claims.

Citing privacy laws, FEMA does not identify aid applicants or recipients or provide a breakdown of claims more specific than the county of origin.