NATIONAL GUARD IS PARTNERING WITH MONROE COUNTY TO ASSIST WITH INTERIOR STORM DAMAGE REMOVAL FOR HURRICANE IRMA SURVIVORS IN THE KEYS

MONROE COUNTY, FL – In cooperation with Monroe County Emergency Management, the National Guard is beginning today a free, short-term program in which Guard members will remove interior storm damage from residents’ homes as part of the first step to make these homes livable again.

With the homeowners’ consent, the National Guard will remove damaged and moldy drywall, flooring, carpeting, ceilings, doors, insulation, fixtures, kitchen cabinets, destroyed appliances and other unsalvageable contents and bring them curbside. They also will do limited sanitizing to prevent mold from returning.

This is the first two steps of 17 required in the FEMA program called STEP (Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power). This program funds certain necessary and essential measures to help restore power, heat and hot water to primary residences that could regain power through necessary and essential repairs. STEP can help residents safely shelter-in-place in their homes pending more permanent repairs.

For the National Guard to help with the removal of interior storm damage, you need to follow these steps:

  • Sign a release for “Right of Entry.”
  • These releases are available on the website keysrecovery.org and at the following locations: the Disaster Recovery Center at the Big Pine Community Park, 31009 Atlantis Road, the Winn Dixie at Big Pine Key, the Comfort Station in front of the former Habitat ReStore on Overseas Highway on Big Pine Key and at the Big Pine Key, Cudjoe Key and Sugarloaf fire stations.
  • These forms can be returned to the place they were picked up or emailed to[email protected].

Once you fill out a “Right of Entry” release, you will be contacted by a County or National Guard representative. If your home meets the guidelines, then an appointment will be set up for the work to be done. This program is limited, so do not delay signing up.

If you rent, contact your landlord/property homeowner to see if the homeowner wants to be included in this program. The owner of your rental home would have to sign the release for “Right of Entry” before work could be done on your unit.

keysrecovery.org * facebook.com/MonroeCountyFLBOCC/ *@monroecounty

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