Hurricane Debby

The Federal Emergency Management Agency can meet immediate needs but does not have enough funding to make it through the hurricane season, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told reporters Wednesday.The agency is being stretched as it works with states to assess damage from Hurricane Helene and delivers meals, water, generators and other critical supplies. The storm struck Florida last week, then plowed through several states in the Southeast, killing more than 160 people.

Florida's second Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday of the year runs from Aug. 24 to Sept. 6.

Crews continue to clean up after Debby more than 2 weeks after it made landfall in Florida. Debby left a trail of debris, floods and more.

FEMA will be opening a Disaster Recovery Center in Manatee County beginning tomorrow to help Florida storm survivors.The Disaster Recovery Center will open Saturday, Aug. 17 from 1 – 7 p.m. at the Lakewood Ranch Library (16410 Rangeland Pkwy, Bradenton, FL., 34211). The center will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily after that.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance is now available to businesses and residents in Sarasota County whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a direct result of Hurricane Debby and are not eligible for regular state or federal Reemployment Assistance benefits.The benefits, announced by FloridaCommerce, are for eligible Floridians whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a direct result of Hurricane Debby are encouraged to submit a claim at FloridaJobs.org.

Estimated insured losses from Hurricane Debby reached $113.8 million Wednesday, as claims continue to be filed after the storm, which made landfall Aug. 5 in Taylor County, according to data on the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation website. Insurers reported they had received 15,326 claims as of Wednesday, including 9,416 involving residential property. Other types of claims included damage to vehicles and commercial property.

Hurricane weary residents work to clean up and rebuild as Debby leaves a trial of floods and storm damage from Florida, and up the Atlantic seaboard.

Free health care is being offered for those affected by Hurricane Debby.

As Floridians, especially across North Florida, clean up after Hurricane Debby dragged through the area, heat returns and there are still chances for a hyperactive hurricane season. Colorado State University released an update to their forecast and it calls for up to 23 named storms.

Last year, sea turtle nests were lost when Hurricane Idalia whipped up Florida's Gest Coast before making landfall in the Big Bend during the last week of August as a Category 4 storm. This year, Hurricane Debby disturbed sea turtle nests again along that coast before making landfall in the Big Bend during the first week of August as a Category 1.