Century Officials Canvas Neighborhoods Hardest Hit By Tornado

March 17, 2016

Representatives from the Town of Century went door to door Wednesday in the areas that were hardest hit by the EF-3 tornado that struck the town on February 15.

They were canvassing residents to find out what recovery needs residents  may have remaining and if they had insurance.

The survey was in advance of opening applications for Century’s share of of $2,058,028 in State Housing Initiatives Partnership, or SHIP, disaster funds for the two  tornadoes that struck Escambia County in February. Funds will be appropriated to assist with owner occupied housing rehabilitation, replacement, and disaster mitigation as outlined in the county’s Local Housing Assistance Plan. H

Century Town Planner Debbie Nickles aid the $2.1 million  split between Escambia County, Pensacola and Century won’t go very far, restoring housing for just a small number of those that lost homes during the tornadoes.

Century alone suffered $3.9 million in damage, plus another $18 million in Pensacola, she said. There were over 100 homes in Century that were destroyed or suffered major damage. About 75 percent of the structures were uninsured.

“There are going to be so many applicants,” she said. “How do we decide who gets their house rebuilt and who doesn’t,” she said. Ultimately, it will be up to the Century Town Council to decide the formula for funds distribution in Century.

Century won’t be able to to take applicants for housing assistance until April — the funds will first be dispersed to Escambia County and an interlocal agreement between the county and the town must be amended to cover the new funding.

Once available, funding may only be utilized for households directly impacted by one of the two storms and income restrictions will apply, see chart below.  Household members seeking repair assistance will be required to provide proof of homestead exemption, income, assets, mortgage (if present), and insurance (if present) to certify eligibility.

For more information on disaster-related owner occupant housing repair or home replacement assistance:

  • Unincorporated areas of Escambia County – County Neighborhood Enterprise Division at (850) 595-0022.
  • City of Pensacola – City Housing Office at (850) 858-0350
  • Town of Century – SHIP applications are expected to be accepted in April, for more information call (850) 256-3208

Comments

One Response to “Century Officials Canvas Neighborhoods Hardest Hit By Tornado”

  1. Citizen on March 17th, 2016 1:11 am

    Very commendable the Town of Century going door to door to get a good organized handle on things.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News