Recovery from the 2024 hurricanes will continue, but Commissioners voted unanimously to end the local State of Emergency at the March 11 regular Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting. The sunsetting of the ordinance does not affect those still recovering from damage from hurricanes Helene and Milton, as those efforts are ongoing.
The BOCC voted unanimously to end the local State of Emergency and approve a Disaster Housing Plan, which includes the placement of state-funded Travel Trailer Units (TTUs).
“When we’re in a local state of emergency, the way our government works is no longer under the constitutional plan set forth in our State Constitution for non-chartered government,” explained Commissioner John Allocco. “There are spending opportunities that [are approved by the BOCC Chairman], but the local state of emergency is not the standard of government that we’re all elected under.”
Emergency Management Director Erin Thomas explained the County’s partnership with two agencies, iParametrics and the United Way of Hernando County, will continue to provide displaced homeowners with travel trailers for temporary housing and assist with rebuilding homes devastated by hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024.
iParametrics is a firm providing emergency management services to the county. Falon Alo, director of humanitarian services, said that the temporary housing plan for Hernando is one of the last resort for residents still displaced by the hurricanes. The solution offered by Alo’s firm is an option for residents who are unable to use resources offered by state programs or FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), primarily because they cannot travel long distances.
The process to qualify for the travel trailers involves inspection and approval of septic systems on the properties, as well as inspection of the site itself. To qualify, an applicant must demonstrate that they owned their home before the storms caused damage and that they were occupying the residence.
Priority goes to homeowners who have limited resources, such as income at or below the Federal Poverty Level, documented disabilities, have been denied insurance claims, or do not qualify for state or federal resources. Residents over the age of 65, Military veterans, and those with more than 50 percent substantial damage to the home are also in this priority category.
Current data presented by Alo at this meeting shows that 49 travel trailers were donated by the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM.) Two hundred thirty-four households are currently under case management with iParametrics, and 81 households are currently in temporary housing. Forty-six households have applications in progress. Seven travel trailers have been placed, and eight are pending committee review. Roughly 35 site inspections have been conducted as of this date.
The United Way of Hernando County has been instrumental in the funding aspect of the trailer placement. Executive Director Angie Bonfardino commends donors to the United Way, “whether through time or monetary donations – it may not connect for them exactly where that’s going, and the instrumental impact that it has … Your United Way is constantly on a mission and strategically investing these dollars into where it’s needed the most – here, just within our Hernando County footprint.”
Alo added that United Way’s involvement in long-term recovery efforts will continue, acknowledging that some residents who are currently living in temporary housing in areas such as Orlando will require fuel assistance to bring their children to school in Hernando County.
