Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and Federal Housing Administration loans (FHA) back the majority of U.S. mortgages – and each has some kind of program to help homeowners struggling to pay their monthly mortgage payment after a disaster. In all cases, however, a homeowner must initiate the process. Disaster relief options are offered to homeowners in declared major disaster areas. However, even homeowners outside those areas may have options if their home incurred a disaster-related loss that impacts their ability to make a mortgage payment. Foreclosure and other legal proceedings are also suspended while homeowners are on a forbearance plan.
Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and Federal Housing Administration loans (FHA) back the majority of U.S. mortgages – and each has some kind of program to help homeowners struggling to pay their monthly mortgage payment after a disaster.
In all cases, however, a homeowner must initiate the process.
Homeowners who don’t know the ownership of their mortgage should start by contacting their servicer – the company they pay each month. Fannie and Freddie also have online lookups:
Programs vary but are similar. Freddie Mac’s short-term forbearance program, for example, provides homeowners mortgage relief for up to 12 months without incurring late fees or penalties.
“Our immediate mortgage relief options are available to support affected homeowners in the path of Hurricane Ian – the same options we made available last week to those impacted by Hurricane Fiona in Puerto Rico,” says Bill Maguire, Freddie Mac’s vice president of single-family servicing portfolio management
Disaster relief options are offered to homeowners in declared major disaster areas. However, even homeowners outside those areas may have options if their home incurred a disaster-related loss that impacts their ability to make a mortgage payment.
Foreclosure and other legal proceedings are also suspended while homeowners are on a forbearance plan.
Insurance company contact info: Unless they need emergency repairs, policyholders are urged to first contact their insurers with damage claims before signing over their benefits rights to repair contractors. Most of the companies listed enable policyholders to initiate claims at their websites. See their contact information below.
Extensions, grace periods, nonrenewal, etc.: The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation issued Emergency Order 300997-22-EO in response to Hurricane Ian regarding the extension of grace periods, limitations on cancellations and nonrenewals, deemers and limitations on “use and file” filings. This Emergency Order is issued to protect the public health, safety and welfare of all Florida policyholders.
Citizens Property response center opens: Citizens Property Insurance Corporation – the Florida-owned “insurer of last resort – has opened Catastrophe Response Centers in the same Port Charlotte and Fort Myers locations to process claims and assist customers recovering from Hurricane Ian. Information here.
Counties eligible for FEMA Individual Assistance include Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns and Volusia. Impacted residents can apply at DisasterAssistance.gov.
Gov. Ron DeSantis activated the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program to help companies deal with temporary operational gaps after Hurricane Ian. The maximum loan per business is $50,000 at zero interest, and owners have one year to pay the money back. Small businesses in the most impacted counties — Charlotte, Collier, Lee, and Sarasota — will be escalated and prioritized as they are received.
The program to help Fla. businesses get back on their feet after Hurricane Ian’s devastation offers loans of up to $50K, with 0% interest for one year.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis activated the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, which offers “bridge loans” to help companies deal with temporary operational gaps after events like Hurricane Ian.
The maximum loan per business is $50,000 at zero interest, and owners have one year to pay the money back. They’re personal loans using State of Florida funds. They are not grants and must be repaid by the approved applicant.
The state is making $50 million available, and at least $10 million of that must go to small agricultural producers impacted by Hurricane Ian in Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Monroe, Orange, Osceola, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, and Volusia counties
Applications from small businesses in the most impacted counties – Charlotte, Collier, Lee and Sarasota – will be prioritized as they’re received.
The business must:
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) oversees the bridge-loan program. Interested applicants can apply now through December 2, 2022, or until all available funds are expended.
Visit FloridaJobs.org/EBL to learn more about the program, view lending guidelines and required documentation, and to complete an application before the Dec. 2, 2022, deadline.
Business owners who need further information may also call (833) 832-4494 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Eastern Time, or email .
Federal disaster assistance is available to affected individuals in Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Orange, Osceola, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns and Volusia counties following the impact of Hurricane Ian. Survivors can apply for disaster assistance at disasterassistance.gov, by calling 800-621-3362 from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Time, or by using
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved Florida’s request to amend its Major Disaster Declaration issued on Sept. 29 related to Hurricane Ian recovery efforts. A Major Disaster Declaration provides a wide range of federal assistance programs for individuals, as well as funds for both emergency and permanent work and public infrastructure.
The amendment extends the declaration to three more Florida counties – Brevard, Orange and Osceola.
However, all Florida counties qualify for some type of hurricane benefit. For a period of 60 days from the start of the incident period, for example, FEMA is authorized to fund debris removal and emergency protective measures (Categories A and B), including direct federal assistance, at 100% of the total eligible costs.
The assistance categories by county include:
Individual assistance: Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns and Volusia counties.
Public assistance debris (Category A): Brevard, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Monroe, Orange, Osceola, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns and Volusia counties.
Public assistance emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance (Category B): All 67 Florida Counties, the Miccosukee Tribe of Florida, and the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
Public assistance permanent work (Categories C-G): Brevard, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Monroe, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns and Volusia counties.
Hazard mitigation grant program: All municipalities in the State of Florida are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
Federal funding also is available to state and local governments, eligible nonprofit organizations, and tribal governments on a cost-sharing basis for debris removal in the counties listed. Damage assessments are being conducted in other areas impacted by Hurricane Ian to determine if assistance is needed in any additional areas.
Individuals and businesses can apply for assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling (800) 621-3362.
Here’s a list of most Fla. insurance companies – their websites, phone numbers and other pertinent post-disaster information.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Here are phone numbers, websites and email addresses for property insurance companies serving Florida. Unless they need emergency repairs, policyholders are urged to first contact their insurers with damage claims before signing over their benefits rights to repair contractors.
Most of the companies listed below enable policyholders to initiate claims at their websites. Not all companies list email addresses on their websites.
Contact your property and casualty insurer if they service your National Flood Insurance Program policy. If you are unsure of which company services your policy, call the National Flood Insurance Program at 877-336-2627. The following companies also sell NFIP policies and excess flood policies: