EASTPOINT, Fla. (WTXL) - A week after the devastating 800-acre Limerock Wildfire, relief efforts are continuing in Eastpoint.
County and state officials are working to find additional funding for the 36 families who lost their homes.
Franklin County Sheriff A.J. Smith says most of the families who lost their homes are staying with family and neighbors. Many hotels in the area are offering discounts and local churches opened as temporary shelters.
Sheriff Smith met with county comissioners and state officials this morning to see what funding sources are available.
Governor Rick Scott is working to bring FEMA trailers to Eastpoint for temporary housing.
"A lot of this money comes from the FEDs, through the state, to the country, so there's a process and a procedure," said Sheriff Smith. "I know Jimmy Patronis, his office was here Thursday and Friday, issuing claims to give $5,000 temporary assistance to some of their families who lost their homes."
These checks from the Florida Division of Risk Management are arriving this week for displaced families.
Sheriff Smith says, he will know if the FEMA trailers are available by Tuesday.
Monday was also the first day for families who lost their homes to the wildfire to apply for a permit and start cleaning up their lots.
County officials set up at the Eastpoint Fire House and by noon, more than 20 families signed up.
The county is working with private contractors who will remove debris and clean the affected lots at no cost to the property owners. However, before contractors can get started, the owner must sign a demolition permit.
"To make sure that they're not taken advantage of too," said Joe Taylor, Franklin's Promise Coalition executive director. "So, the county has waived all of them permitting fees but they still need to get the permits to make sure folks are safe and all the right precautions are taken."
The Department of Children and Families was also there to help families who lost their food stamps. The county wanted to bring all resources to one place, helping these uprooted families get back on track.
Organizers in Eastpoint say the clean up phase is officially starting this week. What families need most are yard work and cleaning supplies.
