~ County Will Use Funds to Help Individuals Impacted by 2004 Hurricanes ~
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2004
CONTACT: JACOB DIPIETRE
(850) 488-5394
DAYTONA BEACH - Lt. Governor Toni Jennings today presented Volusia County
with its first check from the Florida Hurricane Relief Fund. The check for
$174,
594 will be used to provide aid to individuals impacted by the 2004 hurricanes.
"I am encouraged by the hope and enthusiasm I see from the residents
of Volusia County after being hit not once, but three times, this hurricane
season," said Lt. Governor Jennings. "Thanks to all who have contributed
to the Hurricane Relief Fund, we are fortunate to have the ability to aid in
the restoration efforts of our state."
The county plans to distribute the funds to help individuals pay insurance
co-pays for medical care and deductibles for home and auto damage, replace
damaged medical equipment, and assist the elderly with clean-up.
"We have a great many citizens who are hurting as a result of three
hurricanes that caused considerable damage here," said Volusia County
Council Chair Dwight Lewis. "We are grateful for the assistance. These
hurricane relief funds will provide much-needed help to people in great need."
The Florida Hurricane Relief Fund, now totaling more than $12 million, is
designed to cover costs not met by insurance, federal and state agencies
and other relief organizations. Allocations from the fund are based on Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) registrations for each impacted county.
New allocations are scheduled for all counties affected by this season's
four hurricanes.
The relief fund was established by Governor Jeb Bush to provide assistance
to Floridians impacted during the hurricane season. Governor Bush recently
announced a steering committee to guide the fund. The committee is chaired
by former U.S. Senator Connie Mack, with Tallahassee-based attorney Steve Uhlfelder
serving as the voluntary CEO. Vice-chairmen are Joe Lacher, President-Florida,
BellSouth Telecommunications Inc. and Clarence Otis, CEO-designee of Darden
Restaurants Inc. Also joining the committee are Susan Story, President and
CEO of Gulf Power Company, and Tony Carvajal, President of Carvajal Consulting
and Management. All committee members are serving as volunteers for the fund.
The fund is managed by nonprofit Volunteer Florida Foundation. All donations
are tax-deductible and will be used for the hurricane relief effort in Florida.
For more information, visit http://www.myflorida.com
or http://www.flahurricanefund.org,
or call 1-800-FL-HELP-1. Checks, made payable to the Florida Hurricane Disaster
Relief Fund, can be mailed to Volunteer Florida Foundation, 401 S. Monroe Street,
Tallahassee, FL 32301.
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