Deadline approaching for homeowners to register for ‘Rebuild Florida’ help

March 28-- Mar. 28--Friday is the deadline for Florida homeowners to register for help to repair damage caused by Hurricane Irma.

The giant 2017 hurricane, which first struck Caribbean islands as a Category 5 storm, led homeowners in Orange County to file more than 75,000 insurance claims -- the 5th most in the state, according to the Office of Insurance Regulation.

About 4,000 remain open.

The deadline was extended last year to March 29, 2019.

Homeowners need to register with Rebuild Florida, a long-term recovery effort to repair and rebuild the homes of Florida families that were significantly damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Irma. Homeowners seeking help should visit RebuildFlorida.gov or call the Rebuild Florida customer center at 844-833-1010 for assistance.

"Rebuild Florida is using federal funding to repair, rebuild or replace the homes of those impacted by Hurricane Irma," said Ken Lawson, executive director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. "We need Florida's construction industry, especially general contractors, to partner with us to get these Florida families back into safe and stronger homes."

The long-term recovery effort seeks to link eligible Floridians in the most-impacted communities with federal disaster recovery funding. This funding prioritizes low-income households, seniors ages 62 and older, families with children under age 18, individuals with disabilities and residents displaced from Puerto Rico who are now permanently resettled in Florida.

Owners of rental properties also may qualify if they are renting to low or moderate-income Floridians.

[email protected] or 407-650-6361.

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