Multiple counties in Florida can apply for federal disaster assistance through FEMA in the wake of Hurricane Irma, but the process takes time to yield relief. Cheria Brown, media specialist with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, joins Gulf Coast Live to provide information on how exactly residents can apply for aide and what to expect after their application is in.
Accessing FEMA relief in designated areas in Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands can be accomplished by:
- online, at www.DisasterAssistance.gov
- by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY).
- using 711 relay or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362 directly
- using the FEMA mobile app
Also joining the show to provide an update on Collier County's ongoing water, sewage, waste disposal and electrical issues after Hurricane Irma is Margie Hapke, spokesperson for Collier Public Utilities.
Reporters from across Florida will also provide updates on topics ranging from record-high levels at Lake Okeechobee after Hurricane Irma, to ongoing school delays in Lee County and other areas of Southwest Florida.
We'll also hear from local chefs who are stepping up to feed people who have no power and diminishing pantries in the wake of the storm. Chef Brian Roland from Crave Culinaire will join us from an Estero site where he and his team are volunteering. We'll also talk with Chef Kristina San Filipo with Purple Spoon about how to prepare food when you have no power, and what's safe to eat and what isn't once your power is turned back on.
