Residents wait for FEMA assistance after Florida puts in request after widespread flooding

Historic flooding has damaged 66 homes in Martin County, including 25 that were destroyed, according to new county numbers, as displaced residents wait to learn whether federal assistance will be made available.

The flooding has left damage across WPTV's five-county viewing area, stretching from Indian River County through Palm Beach County.

But in Martin County's Jensen Beach community, the latest numbers show just how destructive the flooding has been.

Jensen Beach residents describe unlivable conditions.

Michael Drawdy is among the Jensen Beach residents dealing with severe flooding inside his home.

"Right now I've got 6 to 8 inches of water depending on the level of the house inside the house, and you can see the fecal matter that's coming through the house," Drawdy told WPTV.

Drawdy and his neighbors now face conditions they say have made their homes unlivable.

Residents also told WPTV much of their immediate help has come from one another, along with churches and community donations.

"All these neighbors have all pulled together. They've brought us donations here every day. People have fed us from the churches. Everybody's really been really good that way," resident Suzie Keith said. "No one else has really helped us. I mean, we've all been helping ourselves."

Florida has formally requested federal disaster assistance to help communities recover from recent flooding across Central and South Florida.

At the request of Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Florida Division of Emergency Management announced Monday that the state submitted a Major Disaster Declaration request seeking federal assistance for communities impacted by the flooding.

The request comes after heavy rainfall caused significant flooding in portions of the state, leaving communities dealing with lingering water and damage more than a week later.

"We remain committed to working with our federal partners to ensure impacted Floridians receive the assistance they need to recover," the Florida Division of Emergency Management said in a post on X.

A Major Disaster Declaration must receive federal approval before the requested assistance becomes available.

The state's announcement did not specify which counties are included in the request or detail what types of federal assistance Florida is seeking.

The request is the latest step in the recovery process as residents, businesses and local governments continue assessing damage from the flooding.

Residents say they can't afford to wait

That process comes as some Jensen Beach residents say they are already out of their homes and struggling to figure out what comes next.

Keith said residents understand the process takes time but need assistance now.

"They know it's moving slowly and we're all out of our homes and we have nowhere to live, but they said they're doing everything they can to expedite it to FEMA," Keith told WPTV.

For residents facing destroyed homes and potentially lengthy recoveries, the question is now how quickly additional assistance can reach the people who need it.

Until then, Keith said neighbors are continuing to rely heavily on one another.