FEMA Aid Available In Sarasota, Manatee Counties Following Debby

SARASOTA, FL — Federal assistance is now available for Sarasota and Manatee County homeowners who may have been affected by Hurricane Debby last week.

In a news release posted Sunday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said residents in 10 counties could apply for disaster assistance if they had uninsured damage or losses caused by last week's storm.

Homeowners and renters in Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Manatee, Sarasota, Suwannee, and Taylor counties are allowed to apply, according to FEMA.

After hitting Florida as a hurricane on Aug. 5, Debby spent nearly a week unleashing tornadoes and flooding, damaging homes and taking lives along the East Coast. The storm claimed the lives of several people and dumped multiple inches of rain on Florida, prompting flooding in some parts of the state.

RELATED:

• Scenes Of Massive FL Flooding, Downed Trees, Wires: Debby Photos
• 500 People Rescued From Flooded Sarasota Homes, More Expected: Police

About 500 people were rescued from flooded homes in Sarasota following the storm, the Sarasota Police Department said Monday in a social media post.

The department shared photos on its Facebook page of residents plucked from floodwaters that were taken near the intersection of South Conrad Avenue and Bahia Vista Street near Philippi Creek in Sarasota.

“Essentially we’ve had twice the amount of the rain that was predicted for us to have,” Sarasota County Fire Chief David Rathbun said in a social media update.

In Manatee County, 186 people were rescued from flood waters, according to the county's public safety director.

Those eligible can apply for FEMA assistance to cover costs including temporary lodging, basic home repair costs, personal property loss or other disaster-caused needs.

To apply, go online to DisasterAssistance.gov, use the FEMA App or call 800-621-3362 from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET daily.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.