President Donald Trump approved a Major Disaster Declaration for Florida Tuesday evening, more than two weeks after Hurricane Isaias tore through the panhandle.
The declaration grants the release of federal funds to designated counties, including Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington counties.
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At this time, public assistance for the designated counties is for emergency repair work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities. The decision of which counties will have access to individual assistance is still under review.
In his request for a major disaster declaration, Gov. Ron DeSantis asked for individual assistance to include Bay, Escambia, Gulf, Holmes, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton, and Washington counties.
With federal approval, individual assistance can provide eligible households with funding for temporary housing, basic home repairs, and disaster-related expenses.
Congressman Jimmy Patronis and Florida Rep. Michelle Salzman announced the declaration on social media Tuesday night.
In a statement to WEAR, Patronis thanked the president for “answering the call to help Northwest Florida recover from Hurricane Isaias” and called the declaration a “critical step forward.”
“We won’t stop until Northwest Florida is back on its feet,” he continued.
For updates on Hurricane Isaias and available resources, visit floridadisaster.org/updates.