FEMA Tours Flood Damaged Broward Neighborhoods
FT. LAUDERDALE (CBS4) – Broward homeowners who suffered rain or flood damage from showers and storms over the Halloween weekend may be getting some help from Uncle Sam.
After meeting with county officials and Emergency Manager Chuck Lanza, three teams from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are touring sections of Broward which received heavy flooding and the most reports of rain damaged residences and businesses; south Ft. Lauderdale, north Ft. Lauderdale and the Wilton Manors/Oakland Park area.
FEMA will be looking to see if residents will qualify for grants or low interest loans.
"There are a number of factors we consider, insurance, and financial capability," said Jim Homstad of FEMA. "It boils down to whether the state and local entities have exhausted their resources to qualify for a federal disaster declaration."
More than 50 neighborhoods had standing water in the streets days after the soaking rains had stopped.
"It's dry now, but were knee deep in water for three days, plus cut and bruised," said flood victim Judy Codella.
Slideshow: Showers Soak South Florida
In Ft. Lauderdale, more than 30 people spent the night at a Red Cross shelter after rain and floodwaters made their residences uninhabitable.
Workers had to use pumps to suction water out of underground parking garages of several condos, then tow some of the flood damaged vehicles to the surface.
This October was the ninth wettest on record for the city with a rainfall total of 15.52 inches, more than double the October average of 6.82 inches.
It could take several days before FEMA makes a final decision on a disaster declaration.
