Have you been affected by a disaster? Are you facing legal issues after Hurricane Irma or Hurricane Michael? The following are legal issues to consider after a disaster:
- Securing FEMA and other benefits, which you have the right to appeal if you disagree with the decision.
- Making life, medical and property insurance claims. You should consent with an attorney if your claim is denied or too low.
- Dealing with home repair contractors.
- Replacing wills and other important legal documents destroyed in the hurricane.
- Helping with consumer protection matters, remedies and procedures.
- Counseling on mortgage-foreclosure problems or landlord/tenant isues.
- Securing title to your home or property to prove ownership for benefits or insurance purposes.
How to Help
Are you an attorney? Help LSNF respond to those in need! Are you an attorney and want to help in our helpline? We are accepting pro bono support through all of our 16 counties. You can submit an application below or download the sign up form HERE! PRO BONO ATTORNEY SIGN UP I WANT TO DONATE!FEMA (DR-4399)
Federal Emergency Management Agency – 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. People in the following counties are eligible to receive federal disaster assistance: Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Leon, Liberty, Taylor, Wakulla, and Washington. For DR-4399, assistance for affected individuals and families is available and people are urged to apply through FEMA: Disaster Number: 4399 Calling 800-621-3362 (FEMA). Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may also call 800-621-3362. People who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET, seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available. Press 2 for Spanish and press 3 for other languages. Or download the FEMA Mobile App. If you need to appeal a FEMA denial on your own, please see here to get an interactive form to appeal and letter requesting a copy of your file. For Frequently Asked Questions about FEMA appeals, please click here. LSNF Disaster FEMA Relief Brochure LSNF Disaster Food Stamp Brochure LSNF Disaster Unemployment AssistancePublic Benefits
FLOW (Florida Licensing on Wheels) – Florida’s Department of Highway Safety is operating mobile driver license and motor vehicle services (called FLOW) for Hurricane Michael survivors to renew, obtain or replace driver’s licenses, ID cards, and disabled parking permits as well as to change names or addresses on licenses and ID cards. Go to https://www.flhsmv.gov/locations/florida-licensing-wheels-flow/ for more information.Landlord-Tenant
After a natural disaster, your lease remains binding on both the tenant and the landlord. You have the right to reduce your rent in proportion to the damage to the unit. You can terminate your lease for lack of repair by giving the landlord a written notice of your intent to terminate the lease if specific repairs you list are not made. The notice must give the landlord at least seven days to make the repairs. Florida law does not allow a landlord to remove you without filing an eviction action in court and you don’t have to move until a judge enters a final judgement. Your landlord must give you written notice to move before filing an eviction case against you in court. If your landlord tries to lock you out, you can call the police and you should consult a lawyer to find out about an action for damages. Direct Housing Assistance – On October 28th, FEMA approved Direct Housing Assistance in the form of Multi-family lease and repair (MLR), Manufactured Housing Units (MHU) and Recreational Vehicles (RVs) for Bay, Calhoun, Gadsden, Gulf and Jackson. Priority for housing units is given to applicants whose household includes one or more persons with a disability or other access and functional needs. Additional information is available here. Disaster Information for Renters – People who have sustained property damage as a result of the severe storms and flooding are urged to register with FEMA, as they may be eligible for federal and state disaster assistance. People can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or web-enabled device at m.fema.gov. Applicants also may call 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585 (TTY) from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Flood survivors are also encouraged to call the FEMA hotline to report their damage. For more information on Florida’s recovery: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4399 The Blue Roof Program – If you are still faced with damage to your roof while trying to make repairs to your home due to Hurricane Michael, The Blue Roof Program may be able to help. This program is making temporary repairs to partially damaged roofs. Call 1-888-ROOF-BLU or go to https://www.flgov.com/2018/10/17/gov-scott-operation-blue-roof-to-help-families-temporarily-repair-homes-at-no-cost/ **NOTE: To be eligible, the roof must not have more than 50% structural damage and the owner must give right of entry to the property. Transitional Sheltering Assistance – FEMA has opened up its Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program for eligible residents of Bay, Gulf and Jackson counties. TSA is available for those whose primary pre-disaster residence is uninhabitable or inaccessible because of Hurricane Michael. Period of Assistance will be 5- 14 days after TSA declaration (10/24/2018) Eligible registrants may choose to stay at any TSA participating lodging facility where a vacant room is available. A list of approved lodging facilities can be found at http://www.disasterassistance.gov/ and through the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362). If approved, eligible registrants will be notified of their initial eligibility and receive seven days’ notice prior to their TSA end date. Continued eligibility for TSA will be tied to a registrant’s eligibility for Housing Assistance under the IHP and will be based on individual circumstances and demonstrated continued need.Title Clearing/Probate
Learn more about title clearing and probate processes HERE! No Place Like Home (Clear Title) BrochureInsurance (Health & Home)
Homeowners and renters with insurance, should contact their insurance company immediately. They should take photographs of their property before making repairs, make a list of damaged items, gather important documents, and document every contact with the insurance company or its agents/adjusters. Florida KidCare Premiums – Following the devastating impact of Hurricane Michael, the Board of Directors for the Florida Healthy Kids Corporation has decided to cover monthly premium payments in the 12 counties designated by FEMA as eligible for individual assistance, which include: Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Leon, Liberty, Taylor, Wakulla and Washington. The Board also approved a renewal extension period until February 1, 2019, for families in those counties whose regular annual renewal falls between November 1, 2018, and January 1, 2019. For more information about Florida KidCare, visit floridakidcare.org United Policyholders – UP specializes in helping disaster survivors with insurance claim issues. Emergency Prescription Assistance Program – The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has activated the Emergency Prescription Assistance Program (EPAP) to allow uninsured Floridians free replacements of certain medical supplies, equipment and medications lost or damaged by Hurricane Michael through 11/15/2018. HHS says that uninsured Floridians affected by Michael can visit www.phe.gov/epap .or call 855-793-7470 to see if their medication or medical/supplies or equipment are covered and to find a participating pharmacy. Click here for more EPAP information.Consumer issues
Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available for eligible applicants. SBA helps businesses of all sizes (including landlords), private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or damaged personal property. Disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries. For more information, contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing [email protected] or visiting SBA’s website at disasterloan.sba.gov. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339. Legal Assistance Consumer Guide: The Florida Bar’s “Mass Disaster” consumer guide provides information for consumers on whom to contact for legal assistance and how to protect their legal rights in the event of a mass disaster: linked here. Price Gouging – Attorney General Pam Bondi activated Florida’s price gouging hotline for all consumers in Florida at 1-866-9-NO-SCAM (1-866-966-7226). Problems with insurance companies can be directed to the Attorney General’s office by calling 1-866-966-7226 or by calling the Florida Department of Financial Services at 1-800-342-2762. Working with Contractors:- Before signing a contract for repairs, tree work or debris removal, contact the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (850-487-1395) or MyFloridaLicense.com to verify the current status of the license.
- Make sure that the agreement is in writing and read it completely.
- Ask for references and, where possible, get estimates from more than one contractor.
- Fill in any blank spaces and make sure the contractor’s name, address, phone number, license number, description of the work, completion date and warranty information are completed.
- Do not sign off that the work is completed unless it is actually completed acceptably.
- The contractor should pull any permits for the work – do not pull permits for the contractor.