Residents of the Georgia counties affected by Tropical Storm Debby or Hurricane Helene who were provided displacement assistance may be eligible for rental assistance.

FEMA has opened mobile disaster recovery centers in four Georgia counties to aid Hurricane Helene survivors in applying for federal assistance.

Hurricanes Helene and Milton left behind damage that some people may never recover from, and the federal government is reminding people to be aware of potential scammers who may try to take advantage of the storms' victims.

Citizens Property Insurance denied 77% of homeowners claims from Hurricane Debby, according to new data from the Allbritton Journalism Institute.

With calls coming from unfamiliar numbers and area codes, FEMA wants applicants to be aware of scam callers pretending to be associates from disaster assistance.

Employees or self-employed Georgians who became unemployed due to Tropical Storm Debby or Hurricane Helene may be eligible to receive federal disaster unemployment assistance.

The White House says the federal government has approved nearly $2 billion in assistance across six states to help people hit hard by hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Flagler County officials said it suffered an estimated $18.8 million in damages from Hurricane Milton and encouraged property owners to apply for disaster assistance through FEMA.

When there is a major disaster and states find they need more help than they can provide, they turn to the federal government.

After two back-to-back Hurricanes in Florida, FEMA is helping disaster survivors with a variety of assistance programs.

The City of St. Augustine Planning and Building Department and Code Enforcement Division will be out in affected neighborhoods on Friday to assess property damage to homes and businesses.

Misinformation and conspiracy theories spreading online are hurting hurricane relief efforts. In the days following Hurricane Helene, federal and state officials have warned that false claims have distracted from rescue work.

Vice President Kamala Harris will tour damage caused by Helene in Georgia and North Carolina, as the devastating and deadly storm has also roiled the political calendar just over a month from Election Day.

Glynn County is offering sandbags and Georgia Power is ready to respond to Helene.

If you live in Columbia County, you may see some folks with a badge and a polo that has a FEMA badge on it.

The Columbia County Board of County Commissioners will give an update on the continued response and recovery after Hurricane Debby.

Multiple counties in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia are eligible for federal assistance after Tropical Storm Debby.

Glynn County homeowners and renters who suffered uninsured or underinsured damage to their property from Hurricane Idalia have two weeks left to apply for federal disaster assistance.

St. Johns County and the company contracted to work on beach restoration projects following Hurricanes Irma and Matthew have agreed to a settlement after there was a dispute over costs.

The Disaster Recovery Center in Brunswick opened by The State of Georgia and FEMA to assist Hurricane Idalia survivors will be closing permanently on Friday.

Voluntary evacuations are underway in Putnam County ahead of Hurricane Idalia, which is expected to make landfall Wednesday morning as a Category 3 storm.

Two beach ramps in St. Johns County will be closed as the FEMA dune enhancement project is set to begin Monday at Butler Beach.

No matter how many times we warn people not to panic buy ahead of a storm, we see it nearly every time a tropical system could possibly head our way.

Monday is the last day to apply for assistance if you were affected by Hurricane Nicole.FEMA assistance applies only to select Florida counties. Only three counties in our area are eligible to apply: Flagler, St. Johns, and Putnam Counties.

St. Johns County officials met with property owners on Thursday evening, hoping to work on a solution to beach erosion following tropical storms and hurricanes that have swept Florida’s east coast.

Thursday is the last day you can apply for FEMA disaster relief if you had property loss or damage from Hurricane Ian.

House fires are most likely to happen in December -- between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

The director of St. Johns County Emergency Management gave county commissioners an update Tuesday on the various beach renourishment and restoration projects that are in the works — both in the short- and long-term.

Flagler County on Friday — a day after Hurricane Nicole made landfall along Florida’s east coast — submitted an initial damage assessment report to the state in the amount of $23.7 million, according to a news release from the county.

FEMA will temporarily close the Disaster Recovery Centers in Flagler and St. Johns counties ahead of an approaching tropical system.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will open a Disaster Recovery Center on Saturday at the Flagler County Fairgrounds, the Flagler County Emergency Management said Friday.

Disaster Recovery Centers provide disaster survivors with information from Florida state agencies, FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

People in hard-hit areas can file for temporary housing assistance, basic home repairs and certain other uninsured disaster-related needs through insurance through FEMA.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has opened a Disaster Recovery Center in St. Johns County in the wake of Hurricane Ian.

Ten days after the major disaster declaration for Hurricane Ian in Florida, FEMA has approved $150 million in grants to 101,705 households to help them recover.

Those numbers are expected to dramatically increase with estimates as high as 40 billion.

Federal resources have become available for counties in Northeast Florida following Hurricane Ian’s aftermath.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is advising Hurricane Ian survivors to be aware of potential scams and attempts of fraud during a time of vulnerability.

Many Floridians are using portable generators after Hurricane Ian wreaked havoc on the peninsula. Generators can provide a temporary source of power during an electric outage, but if used inappropriately, they can turn hazardous.

Individuals and households in Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia counties can apply for FEMA Individual Assistance, which may include temporary housing assistance, basic home repairs and certain other uninsured disaster-related needs.

Hurricane season officially began Wednesday, and federal and state leaders are reminding everyone that now is the time to get ready for a storm.

Flood maps are changing because of the way the climate is changing, and due to strong storms continuously hitting the same areas.

A New Orleans family that was forced to evacuate their house ahead of Hurricane Ida still hadn’t returned home as of Monday.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is expanding its COVID-19 funeral assistance program to provide financial aid to more families whose loved ones died of the disease.

President Joe Biden will visit FEMA headquarters in Washington D.C. on Monday for a briefing on the Atlantic hurricane outlook and preparedness efforts. Florida is also expected to release new information on storm resources Monday.

Turnout was so low following an 11-day pause of the Johnson & Johnson single-shot vaccine at a central Florida FEMA-run site that about 90% of the daily supply went unused.

Gateway Mall and other vaccination sites run by the federal government in Jacksonville discontinued giving Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccines after a joint call from the CDC and FDA. State-run sites and private pharmacies have also suspended giving J&J doses but continue with the two-shot vaccines.

FEMA begins accepting applications on Monday for financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses.

On Friday, there will be two pop-up clinics in Duval County where residents can get the COVID-19 vaccine without an appointment.

Ivonne Burgess, 81, gets the first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at a FEMA vaccination site at Miami-Dade College, Wednesday, March 3, 2021, in North Miami, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – More than 5 million people in Florida have been at least partially vaccinated against COVID-19, as the state continues to expand eligibility. Through Monday, 5,057,939 people had received shots, with 2,791,216 fully vaccinated, according to numbers released Tuesday by the Florida Department of Health. Vaccines produced by Pfizer and Moderna require two doses, while a vaccine produced by Johnson & Johnson requires only one dose. Through Monday, 2,615,837 people had completed the Pfizer and Moderna two-dose series, while 175,379 had received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which was approved for use later than the other two types. AdAs of Monday, 3,178,147 people age 65 and older had been vaccinated -- or 62.8% of the overall total.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Starting next Wednesday, only second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will be available at federally-supported sites in Jacksonville, including the Gateway Shopping Mall and its two satellite sites in Oceanway and Jacksonville Beach. AdThe end of first doses at Jacksonville FEMA sites are happening as Gov. Ron Desantis is publicly discussing waiving age requirements entirely for the COVID-19 vaccine. The federal locations in Jacksonville added more than 4,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses a day to the supply in Northeast Florida. The federally supported sites in Jacksonville have not yet experienced a single day where its daily allotment of doses was used.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – State officials announced Thursday morning that the three FEMA-sponsored sites in Jacksonville, which includes Gateway Mall and two satellite sites, hit a milestone. Other data from Wednesday show:The satellite site at Oceanway Community Center can vaccinate 500 shots per day. The state vaccine site at Regency Mall has a capacity of 2,000 per day. The FEMA-sponsored site at the Gateway Mall in Jacksonville stopped accepting patients Thursday afternoon as a squall line of storms approached the area. AdThe Florida Emergency Management Division said the two satellite sites at Oceanway and Carver closed and would reopen Friday morning at 9 a.m.------The Associated Press contributed to this story.

He says he’s ready to get the shot and wants to make sure his community can. Khawaja Seviqi, or Hashmat, says he wants his community in Jacksonville to move past the pandemic by rolling up his sleeve. But he says his community and other minorities have been left out of the picture when it comes to getting the vaccine. Ad“Some of the concerns that we have been hearing, the question is ‘will my citizenship status affect my ability to give the vaccine?’” said Alawee. Alawee said it takes all of us to make sure every community is included.

People line up Sunday morning at the federal vaccination site at the Carver Center in Jacksonville Beach. Two vaccination centers run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency opened Sunday morning in Duval County. The satellite sites moved from the Westside and Northwest Jacksonville to the Carver Center on 5th Avenue South in Jacksonville Beach and the Oceanway Center on Sago Avenue West on the Northside. FEMA opened the two satellite sites in conjunction with the federally-supported vaccination clinic at the Gateway Mall on the Northside. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is offered at the Gateway Mall site -- not the sites at the Carver and Oceanway centers.

The second prediction comes because the National Flood Insurance Program is rolling out a new way of pricing flood insurance later this year. But flood insurance has always been far cheaper — at a national average of around $800. Critics have long pointed out that the federal flood insurance program effectively subsidized coastal homes at the expense of taxpayers by holding insurance rates artificially low. “Do we want flood insurance to help people be able to acquire wealth and buy a home? First Street’s analysis found almost 400,000 properties with flood risk that weren’t in a flood zone in Florida, nearly the same amount of homes that were in a flood zone.

Family caregivers may assist with daily activities, personal care, or medical needs. Family caregivers qualify as health care workers with direct patient contact in Florida. AdGibson said the idea is to encourage both seniors and their caregivers to get vaccinate. “If the charge or senior has a vaccine, but the caregiver doesn’t, that’s not really the safest environment,” Gibson said. “To me, it sort of makes sense to get caregivers vaccinated.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Federal officials on Monday gave the first public first look inside the temporary COVID-19 vaccination site at Gateway Mall. The Federal Emergency Management Agency site, run by Navy personnel, can administer up to 2,000 does per day -- although the site has averaged about half of that since it opened Wednesday. They’re elderly.”You can make an appointment for a shot at the Gateway site, but it is not required. News4Jax asked the Florida Division of Emergency Management if the state would do something similar in Jacksonville but had not received an answer as of Monday afternoon. The Gateway site is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week.

“Because of the federal directive, this site at Gateway will take teachers, school workers, early childhood, pre-K, of all ages at this site,” said Kevin Guthrie, deputy director/SERT Chief. “So, again, pre-K through K-12, Head Start programs, child care centers, day care centers, and so on -- that site, the federal site, will do that. It is a federal site, and they are complying with the federal directive.”AdCVS, Walmart and Publix are also vaccinating teachers of any age at pharmacies around the state, citing the federal guidelines. AdHundreds of people got shots at the new site in the parking lot of the Jacksonville mall on Norwood Avenue just off Interstate 95. AdThe Gateway Mall site is expected to be active for at least 60 days, although the satellite sites are expected to relocate every seven to 10 days.

It marked the first annual contraction for the country’s economy since 1998, when it was in the midst of a crippling financial crisis. In comparison, the federal government previously said 38% of people would receive two doses by the end of June. Still, that’s 700,000 doses on hand, when the state is getting 200,000 doses this week, rising to 223,000 next week. AdBharat Biotech has already signed an agreement with Brazil to supply 20 million doses of the vaccine by September. ___COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio’s mask mandate will continue until a “critical mass” has been reached of people who have received the coronavirus vaccine, a spokesperson for Ohio Gov.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After a surprise weekend of allowing seniors 65+ to get vaccinated for COVID-19 without an appointment for the last three days, the site at Regency Square in Jacksonville is back to appointment-only vaccinations -- for now. The Florida Association of Public Information Officers confirmed to News4Jax, the site is available to people with an appointment, but a spokesperson said that could change. The agency said it plans to open a new vaccine site in Northeast Florida. With federal support, the state will open Gateway Mall for vaccines on the Northside of Jacksonville March 3. RELATED: FEMA to open COVID-19 vaccination site at Gateway Mall next monthAdIt is expected to facilitate roughly 2,000 doses of the vaccine per day.

FBI Director Christopher Wray speaks during a briefing about the upcoming presidential inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, at FEMA headquarters, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden has confidence in FBI Director Chris Wray and plans to keep him in the job, the White House press secretary said Thursday. FBI directors are given 10-year terms, meaning leadership of the bureau is generally unaffected by changes in presidential administrations. But Biden's spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, was notably noncommittal when asked at her first briefing Wednesday whether Biden had confidence in Wray. "I have not spoken with him about specifically FBI Director Wray in recent days," Psaki said.

Vice President Mike Pence listens during a briefing about the upcoming presidential inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, at FEMA headquarters, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)WASHINGTON – Vice President Mike Pence is among those who will not be attending President Donald Trump’s sendoff event at Joint Base Andrews. The caution comes weeks after Trump supporters stormed the Capitol to try to stop Congress from confirming Biden’s victory. Trump and Pence’s relationship has been strained since Trump tried to pressure Pence to stop the election certification and Trump supporters roaming the Capitol chanted, “Hang Mike Pence!” after the president tweeted disapprovingly of him. Aides have been organizing an elaborate sendoff, but it is unclear how many invitees plan to attend.

(AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)WASHINGTON – The FBI is tracking an “extensive amount of concerning online chatter,” including calls for armed protests leading up to next week's presidential inauguration, Director Chris Wray said Thursday. Wray said the FBI was receiving a “significant” amount of information that it was pushing out to other law enforcement agencies ahead of the inauguration. States nationwide have already been stepping up security in preparation for possible armed protests and violence this weekend, particularly at statehouses amid legislative sessions and inaugural ceremonies. An FBI bulletin earlier this week warned of potential armed protests in all 50 states. The vice president visited with guard troops keeping watch outside the Capitol, telling them he’s familiar with the National Guard because he used to be a governor.

With the coronavirus pandemic those of us who live here have to take additional steps to be prepared. We really need to focus on this evacuation notice in spite of COVID.If you are in the evacuation zone, the risk there is drowning from these storms. Its really about the masks and hand sanitizers and things like that, that you (should) bring with you, Fugate said. Its important to note that shelters might be limited, based on what is happening at any given time with the health crisis. As a result, its critical to prepare and make an evacuation plan sooner rather than later.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - More than two years after Hurricane Irma left parts of Jacksonville underwater, FEMA is reimbursing JEA to the tune of almost $3 million for costs racked up by the publicly owned utility. The $2,933,281 sum is meant to help offset the costs of power restoration and repairs, emergency pumping at wastewater lift stations and emergency generator replacement, among other things. Irma, billed by forecasters as one of the most expensive hurricanes in U.S. history, cost Jacksonville more than $80 million, according to city estimates. The reimbursement for JEA, along with $5.2 million previously awarded for emergency protective services and $1.7 million for dune restoration, is authorizes under FEMA's public assistance grants. The grant program is intended to help cover hurricane-related expenses, such as debris removal, extra emergency services, and repair costs for damage to buildings and infrastructure.

"Our goal is always to be the last to close, first to open," Waffle House public relations director Pat Warner told CNN. The hungry history of the Waffle House IndexFormer FEMA administrator Craig Fugate told CNN the Waffle House Index was born out of coincidence, hunger and necessity. The further south they drove, the more open Waffle House locations they found while other businesses were dark. So they codified it--and the Waffle House Index was invented. Waffle House plans to roll with Dorian's punchesTo determine whether shops should fire up the waffle irons or not is tricky.

Fire departments from California are being deployed by FEMA to help with Hurricane Dorian-related rescues in Charlotte, N.C. Distributed by LAKANA. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Dorian, once expected to make landfall inThe names of hurricanes may change, but one thing seems to stay the same: Misinformation spreads quickly during these dangerous storms. Here's a sampling of false information, fabricated photos and hoaxes that have accompanied other big name hurricanes. However, the Americans with Disabilities Act does require that hotels and shelters take in service animals, according to FEMA. THE FACTS: A portable generator should never be turned on indoors, even if doors and windows are open. THE FACTS: FEMA rebutted this claim during Hurricane Harvey in 2017.

CNNJACKSONVILLE, Fla. - FEMA announced Tuesday it will be reimbursing over $17.5 million to communities across Florida, including Nassau County, for expenses related to Hurricane Irma. According to a news release, $2.4 million will be reimbursed to Nassau County for debris removal as a result of Irma. FEMA will also be reimbursing an additional $1.7 million to Nassau County for the South Amelia Island Stabilization as a result of Hurricane Matthew. Home buyout program extendedIn addition, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity announced an extension of the application deadline for its Hurricane Irma voluntary home buyout program. Local governments in communities impacted by the storm now have until Oct. 1 to apply for grant funding through the Rebuild Florida Voluntary Home Buyout Program.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - As we get closer to peak hurricane season, FEMA and the National Flood Insurance program are encouraging Floridians to prepare now and consider buying flood insurance. According to FEMA, its important to buy flood insurance ahead of time because it takes 30 days for a new insurance policy to take effect. Tipton said fortunately, they did have flood insurance to help cover the cost of the damage. If we didnt have flood insurance, we would be really struggling, said Tipton. There are several ways to get flood insurance.

BAKER COUNTY, Fla. – Aerial spraying for mosquitoes will be conducted in certain sections of Baker County this Saturday during the evening hours. While attempts are made to notify the public, if unfavorable weather conditions exist then the aerial spray may be postponed until Tuesday. The spraying is being conducted through FEMA, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS). Aerial spraying will be done with "Naled," an organophosphate insecticide registered for use by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. For a map of exact spraying locations and additional information regarding "Naled," visit the State Agriculture Response Team Website at www.flsart.org/vector_control/.