TALLAHASSEE - Storm-stricken homeowners in South Florida shouldn't look to the federal government for money to clean up after Hurricane Katrina.
Federal Emergency Management Agency officials said Wednesday there wasn't enough damage from last week's Category 1 hurricane to justify giving cash to people in Miami-Dade, Broward or Monroe Counties.
"The good news is that the uninsured damaged caused by Katrina in Florida is not more than state, local and volunteer resources will be able to address," said Scott Morris, director of FEMA's long-term recovery office in Florida.
While waterlogged families are out of luck, FEMA will give money to local governments to fix public infrastructure damaged by the hurricane. Miami-Dade suffered $100-million in damage to government property - schools, street lights and roads. Broward County's damage totaled about $35-million.
Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Florida, who was one of FEMA's sharpest critics after last year's hurricanes, said the decision is shortchanging Floridians.
"Of course our hearts go out to the middle Gulf Coast because that's where the true devastation is," he said in Tallahassee Wednesday. "But under the law the people of South Florida from Katrina have as much a right to have assistance. . . . I think Florida is getting shortchanged just like Florida got shortchanged after four hurricanes that racked us last year."
Joe Martinez, chairman of the Miami-Dade County Commission, said he thinks FEMA is unfairly penalizing South Florida because of several problems last year, including 14 Miami-Dade residents who filed false claims after last year's Hurricane Frances.
Also, federal officials said they paid $12-million too much to about 3,500 people in Florida who applied for assistance because of hurricane damage. FEMA blamed the problem on a computer glitch.
"They are really doing us a disservice, and maybe through no fault of our own, we are paying for the sins of last year," Martinez said. "There's a lot of people here who live paycheck to paycheck, and if they have to throw out just their groceries, that alone can set people back."
After last year's four hurricanes raked many parts of Florida - but not Miami-Dade - Nelson questioned FEMA's expenditures.
Nelson stopped short Wednesday of calling for the resignation of FEMA director Mike Brown, but he laid the blame at President Bush's feet.
"I think the problem is poor management, but I was taught in the military that the guy at the top has to take responsibility, so it's not my place to tell the executive branch, including the top guy, the president, that he ought to fire this or that individual," Nelson said.
Katrina caused widespread yet mostly superficial damage to Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Smaller, suburban enclaves such as Sweetwater, Dania Beach and Hollywood suffered tree damage and downed power lines, while small cities such as Homestead experienced flooding. Power outages were common, yet downtown Miami and Fort Lauderdale were virtually unscathed by the storm.
It's unclear exactly how many individuals would file for FEMA aid; in Miami-Dade, five homes were destroyed and 184 others had major damage, said Martinez. Private insurance will cover some losses, while others are under-insured or not insured at all.
Previously, FEMA gave families up to $26,200 for temporary housing, home repair or for other needs not covered by insurance.
On Tuesday, Broward County Mayor Kristin Jacobs sent a letter to Gov. Jeb Bush, imploring him to help people in South Florida obtain FEMA money and to appeal the official decision.
"Thousands of residents have been severely affected by power outages, telephone service disruption and physical damage to their property and vehicles," she wrote. "Many of these citizens reside in mobile homes that were heavily damaged or destroyed by the storm."
Florida officials said they were unclear why FEMA is denying personal assistance, or when and why the threshold for assistance changed. FEMA officials generally use a complex formula to determine when aid is distributed, based on the number of homes damaged and the extent of the damages.
State officials said that there are other possibilities for financial assistance, such as disaster unemployment assistance programs to help farm workers, and other business-related aid.
"(One) option is go immediately for Small Business Administration declaration which they can do right now. They only have to find 25 homes with 40-percent uninsured loss," said Frank Koutnik recovery chief for State Emergency Response Team.
People like Jania Leal may may be eligible for alternative assistance.
Leal, whose day care business in Homestead was damaged by floodwaters, isn't sure her insurance will cover the carpet and drywall damage. FEMA may not be an option.
"I'll try to get whatever I can," she said.
Tamara Lush can be reached at 727-893-8612 or at lush@sptimes.com
