Florida hurricane recovery programs for homeowners: what's open now

Who runs recovery grants in each Tampa Bay county?

In January 2025, HUD split its recovery money for the 2023 and 2024 storms between the State of Florida and individual local governments. Where a county or city got its own grant, it runs its own program and the state’s Rebuild Florida program does not serve it.

Allocations are each government’s total grant for housing, infrastructure, mitigation and administration, not what a household receives. The Tampa Bay directory shows each local program’s status.

Rebuild Florida (FloridaCommerce)

Rebuild Florida’s Housing Repair and Replacement Program served homeowners in 47 counties, including Hernando. It repaired homes up to $50,000 and rebuilt or replaced them up to $350,000, with state-hired contractors doing the work. Applications opened October 6, 2025 and closed January 30, 2026. The program says it is “no longer accepting new applications” and that people who did not apply can contact their local community action agency. Existing applicants are still being processed; questions go to 1-888-530-3025. There was no separate Idalia program; Idalia damage was included in this one.

Elevate Florida (Division of Emergency Management)

Elevate Florida pays most of the cost to elevate, rebuild to mitigation standards, harden or buy out at-risk homes, with federal money covering up to 75% and the homeowner paying 25%, according to the state. It is not limited to one storm. The state accepted applications from February 7 to April 11, 2025 and has not announced a new application period. By August 31, 2026 it reported 71 property awards statewide; it does not publish awards by county. Call 877-353-8835 about an existing application.

FEMA Individual Assistance

FEMA designated all six Tampa Bay counties for Individual Assistance after Helene (DR-4828) and Milton (DR-4834), and after Idalia (DR-4734). Registration for Helene and Milton closed at 11:59 p.m. January 7, 2025. If you applied and disagree with a decision, FEMA says your appeal letter must be postmarked within 60 days of the date of the decision letter. You can upload it at DisasterAssistance.gov, mail it, or fax it to 800-827-8112. No FEMA disaster recovery centers are open in Tampa Bay; FEMA’s DRC Locator shows any current sites. Our FEMA assistance guide explains appeals in detail.

SBA disaster loans

The U.S. Small Business Administration lends to homeowners, not just businesses: up to $500,000 for a primary home and $100,000 for personal property. For Helene and Milton, the home and property damage deadline was April 27, 2025. If you were offered an SBA loan and declined it, HUD’s rules say that is not counted against a recovery grant; money you accepted and drew down is counted. See how disaster aid stacks.

My Safe Florida Home (mitigation, not repair)

My Safe Florida Home, run by the Department of Financial Services, offers a free wind-mitigation inspection and a matching grant of up to $10,000 for upgrades such as a roof, impact windows and doors, and garage doors. The program’s support center says it is “now accepting applications,” and its eligibility questionnaire asks, among other things, whether the home is your homesteaded primary residence. The 2026-27 state budget (HB 5001-E, section 157) carries the program’s unspent balance forward rather than adding new money. It does not pay to repair storm damage.

Local SHIP disaster help

Each Florida county and some large cities run the state SHIP housing program, which can include a disaster strategy for storm repairs, rental help or temporary relocation. Availability differs by place and changes as money runs out. Hernando County’s emergency management page says SHIP disaster funding is available for Helene and Milton, but another county publication describes it as standby; call 352-540-4338 to confirm. Hillsborough and Pinellas run ordinary SHIP repair programs with different city exclusions; Pinellas’s closed to new applications in May 2026. Ask your county housing office.

State Hurricane Housing Recovery Program money for the 2024 storms. The 2026-27 state budget (HB 5001-E, section 205) moves the unspent balance of the state’s Hurricane Idalia housing recovery money to Debby, Helene, Milton and the 2024 tornadoes, split among counties by damage and population. The budget does not state the amount, and we found no county announcing it yet. The money reaches homeowners through county SHIP offices, so that is where to ask.

Legal help and 211

Hurricane Isaias is a separate event

Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin on October 9, 2026. As of October 19, 2026, FEMA had issued an emergency declaration (EM-3655) for 27 Panhandle and Big Bend counties, covering emergency protective measures only. Florida asked for a major disaster declaration on October 16, 2026; none of the requested counties are in Tampa Bay. Panhandle readers can see our Hurricane Isaias update. All recovery topics are listed on the recovery assistance hub.