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Residents concerned of being under-insured after Matthew

We first interviewed Jim Meade Monday as he spoke with Gov. Rick Scott, who was touring Anastasia Island, where homes had been severely damaged by flooding caused by Hurricane Matthew.

Meade said he was concerned because he was under-insured and St. Johns County had not been cleared for individual assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

His daughter was at his home Tuesday and tells us she's relieved

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"I was watching your newscast last night and they did a little breaking alert and that was very good news. I texted everybody in my family," said Cherryl Rubel.

Meade has lived in his home for years and has never had flood insurance. His homeowners insurance will not cover damages from the storm.

He and his wife are currently staying in an RV that is parked in their driveway. The RV was lent to them through their church.

"We weren't expecting it according to the governor yesterday it didn't look promising," said Meade of the individuals assistance from FEMA.

Now his daughter is helping he and his wife apply for FEMA.

His daughter tells Action News Jax that she and her husband have taken pictures of all of the damages, and have a copy of their parents' homeowners insurance policy saying what they will and won't cover.

These are the first steps people should take when they're applying for FEMA assistance.

You will also need your Social Security number the address of the damaged home or apartment, a telephone number, a bank account and a routing number for direct deposit of funds.

We spoke to Rep. Cyndi Stevenson, who has also been working to help her constituents apply for FEMA.

"One of the most important benefits are for people with substantial damaged homes. The temporary housing benefits will be a godsend for people," said Stevenson.

Stevenson says it's important for people to know that the FEMA hotline is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, and the county should have a FEMA resource center open in St. Johns County by the end the week.

Items covered for repair by FEMA include foundation and roof, windows and doors, floors, walls, and ceilings septic or sewer systems, well or other water systems, heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems, as well as electrical plumbing and gas systems.

FEMA also offers physical disaster loans and economic injury disaster loans for small businesses.


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