Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday that he is giving an extra $7.8 million to people whose homes were damaged by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
He said the money comes from the Florida Disaster Fund and is meant to help Floridians rebuild so that life can return to normal.
The award would help people fix up and rebuild homes that were damaged by the storms.
We checked in with the Delgado family, whose house in Wellington fell on them during the storm. After what happened, they said they could use some money. Yuri Lopez also says that the news makes her feel hopeful.
Lopez said, “It would mean a lot because it would help us get back most of what we lost and rebuild everything.”
At the same time, Jennifer Oro’s 93-year-old mother is having a hard time with the cost of living in her new building.
Before the storm, she lived in the Spanish Lakes neighborhood in St. Lucie County.
Oro said, “I hope the money goes to people who need it because they don’t have family to help them.” “Any kind of help will be great for people like my mom.”
Six people died in the senior community where Oro’s mother lived after the storm.
Oro said, “I think some of that money might also help with some of the sadness and damage.”
DeSantis also stated that $300,000 would be given to Florida’s first responders to help them and $500,000. This money will go to school district foundations to help teachers and support staff who helped out after the storm.
This morning, WPTV called the governor’s office to find out who is qualified, how the money will be split, and when it will be available. They have not yet replied.
Reference: $7.8 million in additional funding announced for those affected by Helene and Milton