Biden declares disaster in Florida due to storms and tornadoes

President Joe Biden has approved a major disaster declaration in Florida due to storms, tornadoes, and floods that affected the state between April 12 and 14, the White House reported on Friday.

The declaration, which names Brett Howard as the coordinator of recovery operations, orders the federal government to send aid to the affected areas, especially in Broward County in southeast Florida.

The assistance launched on Friday includes contributions for temporary housing and home repairs, low-interest loans to cover losses on uninsured properties, and “other programs that help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.”

Likewise, the federal government makes available to state and local authorities, along with some private non-profit organizations, resources to share the cost of repairing or replacing facilities damaged by storms and floods in Broward.

Federal funding is also available to share the cost of risk mitigation measures throughout the state.

Most of Florida has received heavy rains and hail in recent days.

The announcement coincides with forecasts of lightning storms, hail, strong winds, and tornadoes from Brownsville, Texas, to the coast of North Carolina over the Atlantic Ocean.

In light of current weather forecasts, the White House statement indicates that “additional (emergency) designations may be made if requested by the state and warranted by damage assessments.”

TYT Newsroom