IMPORTANT UPDATES FROM FEMA
I have been working closely with President Trump, Governor DeSantis, and FEMA officials, and I am pleased to announce that FEMA has amended its disaster declaration. All coastal counties in Florida’s First Congressional District have now been approved for individual assistance. This allows FEMA to disburse financial or direct assistance to individuals and families whose property has been damaged or destroyed as a result of the federally-declared disaster, and whose losses are not covered by insurance. This is wonderful news, and will greatly help our recovery from Hurricane Sally. More information is available here.
Additionally, FEMA announced last week that Escambia County was approved for public assistance. FEMA has since added to its declaration; Santa Rosa County is now eligible for debris removal (“Category A”) and permanent work (“Categories C-G”). The county has already been designated for emergency protective measures (“Category B”), including direct federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program.
As I have mentioned before, if your home or business has been damaged by the hurricane, please do not wait any longer to contact your insurance company and file a claim. Take pictures of any damage caused by the hurricane. Make sure to have your insurance documents; insurance companies will send out adjusters and start the claims process.
Finally, USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has approved the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) request to waive timely reporting of food loss for households in 13 counties in the State of Florida. This waiver approval will allow affected households in those counties to make a request for replacement of SNAP benefits through October 6, 2020.
SBA LOANS
The Small Business Administration announced on Friday that certain Private Non-Profit organizations (PNPs) in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties are eligible to apply for low-interest disaster loans. Applicants may apply for declaration #16685 online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov/. Disaster loan information and application forms may also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955.
BRIDGE LOANS ACTIVATED
The Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan program has been activated. The Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan program provides short-term, zero-interest working capital loans that are intended to “bridge the gap” between the time a disaster impacts a business and when a business has secured longer term recovery funding such as federally or commercially available loans, insurance claims or other resources.
Loans up to $50,000, or up to $100,000 may be requested in special cases as warranted by the need and evidence of the business, per eligible applicant. Loans made under this program are short-term, personal loans using State of Florida funds — they are not grants, and must be repaid.
You can apply for a Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan here, or visit one the Florida Small Business Development Center’s Business Recovery Centers (a list of which is available here).
RED CROSS ASSISTANCE
In the aftermath of Hurricane Sally, the American Red Cross has worked closely with partners to support emergency housing efforts, and to provide food, water, relief supplies, health services, and financial support to people in need.
Beginning Monday, September 28, at 10:00 am CST, households whose home are destroyed or sustained major damage from Hurricane Sally may contact the American Red Cross by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS, and selecting option 4 to speak to a dedicated call agent to complete an application for financial assistance.
Assistance lines are open Monday through Sunday from 7:30am–10:00pm CST. The deadline to apply for emergency assistance is Sunday, October 11 at 10:00pm CST.
For more information, see:
Pensacola News Journal — September 29, 2020
Red Cross offers $450 in aid for residents whose homes were destroyed by Hurricane Sally
PHRASE 3 REOPENING
The State of Florida recently entered Phase 3 of Governor DeSantis’s plan for COVID-19 recovery. I applaud the Governor’s efforts in combatting the Coronavirus, and I look forward to reopening our economy.
For more information on the details of Phase 3, click HERE.
CONTACT INFORMATION
The following are web sites and contact information for various federal and state agencies:
Escambia County:
Holmes County:
Okaloosa County:
Santa Rosa County:
Walton County:
Traffic and road information:
GAETZ IN THE NEWS
North Escambia — September 28, 2020
USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue, Rep. Matt Gaetz Talk Hurricane Sally Damage With Local Farmers
After touring farms in Baldwin County, Perdue joined Rep. Matt Gaetz at Jenkins Farm on Darney Road in Jay where they saw damage to the cotton crop and heard concerns from Northwest Florida farmers during a roundtable meeting.
Breitbart News — October 1, 2020
Former Twitter CEO Dick Costolo: Capitalists Will Be ‘First People Lined Up Against The Wall and Shot in the Revolution’
Breitbart News has reached out to Twitter for comment on Costolo’s tweet which has not been removed despite seemingly violating Twitter’s rules relating to the glorification of violence. Many noted that they have been suspended for less: Twitter has censored President Donald Trump based on claims he “glorified violence.” The company applied the same policy to Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) over tweets about Antifa.
Breitbart News — September 30, 2020
When It Comes to Hunter Biden — Chris Wallace Was ‘Disgraceful’ as Debate Moderator
It did not go unnoticed that during Tuesday’s presidential debate, moderator Chris Wallace gave openings for former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee, to avoid responding to difficult questions, including those about his son Hunter Biden’s business dealings. Among those was Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL). During an interview with Mobile, AL radio’s FM Talk 106.5, Gaetz called Wallace “disgraceful” for seemingly having bailed out Joe Biden when confronted by President Donald Trump about his son Hunter and other difficult questions.
Gateway Pundit — September 29, 2020
"Spineless Speaker Paul Ryan Blocked Us at Every Turn” – Matt Gaetz Goes Off on Paul Ryan
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) joined Lou Dobbs on Tuesday following the release of newly declassified documents that reveal Hillary Clinton hatched the Russiagate hoax to pin the DNC “hacking” on Trump.
Florida Politics — September 27, 2020
Donald Trump blasts Mike Bloomberg felon rights restoration spend as ‘bribing,’ a ‘serious crime’
Ashley Moody, the current Attorney General, has urged the FBI and Florida Department of Law Enforcement to look into potential illegality. And U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz has also suggested criminality could be afoot.
Breitbart News — September 27, 2020
Biden’s ‘Embrace’ of ‘the Neo-Marxism of the Black Lives Matter Movement’ Helping Trump with Hispanic Vote
During Sunday’s broadcast of New York WABC 770 AM radio’s “The Cats Roundtable,” Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) discussed the 2020 presidential election in the state of Florida. Gaetz told host John Catsimatidis that Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) embracing the “neo-Marxism of the Black Lives Matter movement” is a key factor in changing the Hispanic vote into President Donald Trump’s favor.
WHAT WE’RE READING
The Federalist — September 29, 2020
BREAKING: Russia Believed Clinton Was Planning Anti-Trump Collusion Campaign In 2016, And U.S. Officials Knew It
Red State — September 28, 2020
Jim Comey Fought to Include a Russian Spy’s Disinformation in the Report on Russian Election Interference
CNBC – October 1, 2020
Trump signs bill to prevent government shutdown after funding briefly lapses
Real Clear Investigations — September 25, 2020
Dossier Source Was a Suspected Russian Spy, and the FBI Knew It When It Spied on Carter Page
Breitbart — September 29, 2020
Fact Check: Joe Biden Says Report of Russian Billionaire Paying Hunter’s Firm $3.5M ‘Totally Discredited’
Daily Wire — September 29, 2020
Democrat Tulsi Gabbard On Project Veritas Videos: ‘Offers Further Evidence Of The Need To Ban Ballot Harvesting’
National Review — October 2, 2020
The President Tests Positive for COVID
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