President Declares Major Disaster for Florida

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to the State of Florida and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by Tropical Storm Debby beginning on June 23, 2012, and continuing.

The President's action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Pasco, and Wakulla Counties.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.
Gracia B. Szczech has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Szczech said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.