DeSantis, who spoke without taking questions, said he spoke with FEMA Director Cameron Hamilton Oct. 18 about the declaration, which DeSantis said was sent to the White House Oct. 16 at a press briefing in Milton.
“We anticipate that will happen relatively soon,” he said.
The state is seeking individual assistance for Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Escambia, Walton, Bay, Gulf, Holmes and Washington counties. DeSantis noted that the Trump administration does not have to approve all eight counties, though he expects it will happen.
If approved, individual assistance could give eligible residents money for temporary housing, home repairs, personal property and other disaster-related expenses. The request also covers 75% of debris removal costs, with the rest split between state and local government.
DeSantis said assembling the request required the use of extensive damage assessments with county officials. In Santa Rosa County, between the county and the school district, nearly $180 million worth of damage has been caused due to the storm, with that number expected to grow higher in the coming weeks.
“We had to collect a lot of data, the way FEMA does things now,” he said.
DeSantis added that state officials visited more than 1,000 homes before the request was filed.
President Donald Trump approved a limited emergency declaration on Oct. 9, which included Santa Rosa and Okaloosa and allows FEMA to provide equipment and resources. Isaias made landfall that day as a Category 2 storm near Destin.
With the request now pending, the state is placing travel trailers on the property of displaced residents through a partnership with the nonprofit Emergency. DeSantis said the state has received nearly 300 applications from Escambia to Walton County.
DeSantis also made remarks critical of FEMA, saying that after Hurricane Ian in 2022, federal trailers did not reach impacted communities for several months.
“That’s what I never understood about the FEMA program,” he said. “You’re bringing it six months after Ian.”
DeSantis also announced $5,000 grants for first responders whose homes were damaged following the storm. The first eight grants went to deputies from the Santa Rosa and Escambia county sheriff’s offices.
He noted that grants for firefighters and other first responders would follow.
Emergency Management Director Jared Perdue said state and county crews are working around the clock to clear debris.
Once the declaration is approved, residents can apply through DisasterAssistance.gov.
