Santa Rosa residents still waiting on FEMA aid as state gathers county damage data

President Donald Trump issued an emergency declaration Oct. 9, but that only covers government response costs. Federal aid for individuals, such as help with home repairs or temporary housing, requires a separate disaster declaration that can only come from the president.

Gov. Ron DeSantis, speaking in Jay Oct. 13, said the region will most likely qualify for a major disaster declaration that would open FEMA assistance to residents, but the state was still waiting on data from some counties before submitting its request.

Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, who made a stop at a distribution site at Pace Assembly of God Oct. 15, said the state is taking care to get the request right.

“You got to make sure we dot the I’s, cross the T’s,” he said. “I promise you no one wants that to be slow.”

“Nobody is trying to drag their feet,” he added.

State Rep. Michelle Salzman, R-Pensacola, was also at the Collins stop. She told the Santa Rosa Press Gazette that the declaration was coming.

“We’re waiting on the governor to do the declaration, and I believe that’ll come today or tomorrow,” she said.

As of Oct. 15, the declaration had not been made.

Santa Rosa County has released a preliminary damage estimate of $165 million, with the city of Milton estimating that it would cost $13 million in debris recovery costs. On Thursday, the county said that residents have filed more than 2,500 reports.

In that report, more than 80 structures are classified as destroyed, with more than 300 taking major damage and around 600 taking minor damage.

In total, more than 2,000 structures were affected by the storm.

Salzman described the storm damage as catastrophic for the northern end of Santa Rosa County, where she called the wind damage unprecedented.

“These trees were pulled out of the ground, just ripped out of the ground,” she said. “When the storm shifted east, we just thought, OK, we’re in the clear.”

Both officials praised the state’s response so far. Salzman said a single text message to the state brings supplies to the area. Collins said that, to his knowledge, the state has delivered whatever local leaders ask for.

This was confirmed by Santa Rosa County Commission Chairman Colten Wright in a text message to the Santa Rosa Press Gazette.

“Overall, the entire team from FDOT and FDEM have been very helpful to us and our public safety team,” Wright said. “Sec. Alex Kelly and his team at the Dept. of Commerce have been very responsive in canvassing the area and having conversations with local businesses and the resources that are available to them.”

As for the city of Milton, according to Public Information Officer Bethany Anderson, the state has not skipped out on any request from the city.

Asked what they would tell residents who felt help wasn’t coming fast enough, Collins said to reach out.

“What are the actual deficits?” Collins said. “How can we help? What are you missing?”

Santa Rosa County officials have directed residents to report damage to homes or businesses using the county property appraiser’s website.

The existing declaration has already brought some relief. The IRS has postponed federal tax filing and payment deadlines to Feb. 8, 2027, for individuals and businesses in Santa Rosa County.

Collins also urged residents to check on neighbors, specifically older people and those with disabilities.

“Just because the power’s up doesn’t mean there aren’t unmet needs,” Collins said.