Walton County Awaits Federal Disaster Declaration Decision
Freeport homeowners still cleaning up from Hurricane Isaias could soon have a federal aid pipeline. Florida has formally asked President Donald Trump for a Major Disaster Declaration that would open Individual Assistance to eligible Walton County households, and the request is now awaiting a decision at the White House.
Governor Ron DeSantis announced the request on October 16 at a Milton press conference on Hurricane Isaias recovery, joined by Florida Division of Emergency Management Executive Director Jared Perdue. The state is seeking Public Assistance for 15 Northwest Florida counties, Walton among them, plus Individual Assistance for eligible residents in eight counties — Walton included on that list as well.
“As recovery efforts continue, Florida has submitted a Major Disaster Declaration request to the federal government,” DeSantis said. “We are requesting Public and Individual Assistance to help support Panhandle residents, local governments, and infrastructure affected by the storm.”
For households still hauling storm debris and patching roofs, the Individual Assistance piece is the one to watch. If approved, it could provide eligible households with funding for temporary housing, basic home repairs, essential personal property and other necessary disaster-related expenses — a program designed to help residents address uninsured or underinsured losses. Once the declaration is approved and registration opens, eligible residents in designated counties will be able to apply to FEMA at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362.
The Public Assistance side of the request matters locally as well. It would make federal funding available to state and local governments and certain nonprofit organizations to offset disaster response and recovery costs — debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the repair or replacement of damaged roads, bridges, public buildings and utilities.
DeSantis also announced that Florida is partnering with Emergency RV to provide temporary housing for Floridians displaced by the storm, prioritizing residents whose homes sustained the most significant damage. Displaced families can find more information and the application at EmergencyRV.org.
Back in Walton County, emergency management officials spent this week walking residents through what comes next. On October 22, the county passed along Emergency Management’s explainer of the FEMA disaster declaration process. The state says securing a declaration requires extensive coordination between state, local and federal partners to document storm-related damage, identify unmet needs and demonstrate the severity of the disaster. FDEM says its teams have worked alongside county emergency management officials, FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration to conduct damage assessments of homes, businesses and critical infrastructure across the impacted region — the documentation that determines whether federal assistance follows.
For now, the wait continues. While Florida awaits approval, state and local response and recovery operations remain ongoing across the impacted areas, and FDEM says it will keep working with FEMA, the SBA and local emergency management officials to identify additional recovery needs and pursue available federal assistance.
Originally reported by WEAR ABC 3, with details from the Florida Division of Emergency Management and Walton County Emergency Management via the Walton County Board of County Commissioners. Image: WEAR ABC 3.
