After the Storm

How does the hurricane damage affect you? What processes are taken by the government departments to fix local damage? How should you respond? All these questions are answered here, and more.

POWER AND EMERGENCY RESCUE  

When the grid goes, it all goes

The power line grid
Why you don't have electricity

A hurricane's winds can tear down transmission lines and power poles.

Flying debris knocks out many FPL stations that supply whole neighborhoods.

Repair crews focus on essential customers such as hospitals, police departments and fire departments first.

Why you don't have phone service

Telephone relay stations need electricity to provide local service.

With electricity gone, the phone company uses backup batteries and generators until they deplete.

Also, they can switch stations to provide service to cellphone transmission towers.

Without electricity people can't recharge their cell phones or run their cordless home phones, so it is advised to have one phone attached to the wall with a cord for use while the phone lines are still running on generators even if electricity is out.

The water line process grid
Why you don't have water

Many pumping stations and treatment plants get damaged in strong storms, leaving them at less-than-normal capacity.

Broken or sputtering power supplies slow pump and treatment systems at the source.

Uprooted trees can also pull underground water mains out, destroying them and preventing water flow.

Also, broken or sputtering power supplies mean apartment towers can't pump water to upper floors.

 

Driving around town without traffic signals (return to top)

1. If traffic signals are out of order, stop as you would for a four-way stop sign.

2. You must yield the right of way to all other traffic and pedestrians. Move forward only when the road is clear.

3. At a four-way stop, the first vehicle (1) to reach the intersection and stop should move forward first.

4. If two vehicles reach the intersection at the same time, the driver on the left(2) should yield to the driver on the right.

 

How FPL restores power (return to top)

Florida Power & Light's strategy to restore service to customers without power is based on safety and need, the company says.

  1. Work crews begin in areas with winds below 35 mph. After the hurricane passes, outside workers will be brought in to assist FPL field workers with the repair effort if the damage is bad enough.
  2. FPL's first priority is to have all the power plants operating.
  3. Next, repair crews concentrate on lines that serve essential customers such as hospitals and police and fire departments.
  4. Crews then focus on what repairs can restore power to the greatest number of customers. A major substation or primary distribution line serving 2,000 or 3,000 customers takes priority over a transformer box serving 50 people.
  5. Repairs aren't based on geography. Crews are not necessarily rushed to the areas of greatest devastation; they are routed to the places where they can help the most customers.
 

FEMA's sequence of delivering aid (return to top)

EMERGENCY PHASE

Local government voluntary agencies
Supply immediate food, shelther, clothing and medical assistance

RELIEF PHASE

Personal Insurance

FEMA Housing Assistance: Must call 1-800-621-3362 to register.

  1. Temporary housing: Lodging, Rental, MH / TT
  2. Repairs: Up to $5,200
  3. Replacement: Up to $10,500
  4. Permanent housing construction: Financial or direct

This segment is for SBA dependent needs. Skip below for Non-SBA dependent.

SBA Disaster Loan: Applicants must complete the SBA loan application. If the loan is denied, the applicant becomes eligible for further assistance.

  • Homeowners: Up to $200,000
  • Personal property: Up to $40,000 (Renters and owners)
  • Business: Up to $1,500,000

SBA loan denial or referral

Other Needs Assistance
SBA dependent

Combines assistance from Housing and Other Needs:

  • Transportation (vehicle)
  • Personal property
  • Moving and storage

Start reading here for non-SBA dependent assistance

Other Needs Assistance
Non-SBA dependent

Combines assistance from Housing and Other Needs:

  • Funeral
  • Miscellaneous expenses
  • Medical, dental
  • Transportation (non-vehicle)

LONG TERM RECOVERY

Recovery support groups:

  • Voluntary agencies
  • Interfaith organizations
  • Long term recovery committees