FEMA opens recovery center and more help with flooding aftermath in Broward County

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Almost a full month since historic flooding overtook parts of Fort Lauderdale and residents are beginning a new phase of recovery: rebuilding off a blank canvas.

“All day. All day, every day I work over here,” said Leopoldo Labrador from his Edgewood home.

Labrador said he’s so proud of his work and is preparing to move back into his master bedroom with his wife.

There’s still so much work to be done on the rest of the home, from replacing the drywall to buying and moving in new furniture.

He said his niece helped him apply for FEMA and they already received the funds. Several other avenues are available for assistance including new low-cost loans from the US Small Business Association.

“They’re here to help not just businesses, but also homeowners,” said Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis. “Homeowners will be a large part of what they’re able to do — just getting people back on their feet.”

Click here for more on the SBA low-cost and long-term loans available. (Also available in Spanish.)

The piles of debris are disappearing from neighborhoods as crews continue working from sun up to sundown to remove damaged furniture.

Samaritans Purse, a Christian organization, is still helping homeowners gut their homes to start over.

Homeowners are waiting for insurance to kick in and FEMA continues to accept applications for assistance too.

The FEMA Disaster Recovery Center is open at Hortt Park, 1700 SW 14th Court. Hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. It is closed on Sundays. They are urging residents to stop in if they need help applying for federal assistance or disaster loans, or to update an application. They also can help residents learn about other resources available, according to officials at the center.

The recovery centers are not only in the city of Fort Lauderdale but across Broward County.

“A lot of people have gone through a traumatic time and they want to sit down and talk to someone. In some cases, FEMA will be able to provide money directly to you if you need help with home repair to rental assistance or other needs,” said John Mills, external affairs officer for the FEMA Incident Management Assistance Team.

One woman told Local 10 News that her home was a total loss from all the flood damage and needed immediate assistance.

“We have a child that’s 8 years old and she’s autistic and we have no home to live in, no relatives here and we have to live from scratch,” said Irena.

No appointment is needed and there’s in-person help applicants sign up or follow up on getting federal assistance to bounce back.

To apply, go online to disasterassistance.gov or check out FEMA and download the app. Call FEMA from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. at (800) 621-3362.


About the Author:

Andrew Perez is a South Florida native who joined the Local 10 News team in May 2014.