Deltona, Fla. — Thousands of residents in Central Florida are still recovering from the impacts of Hurricane Milton. 

What You Need To Know

  • A new program from the Florida Division of Emergency Management is being rolled out to help with the recovery and mitigation efforts

  • "Elevate Florida" is the first statewide residential mitigation program of its kind

  • The goal of this program is to enhance community resilience by mitigating private residences against natural hazards

  • State leaders say residents can prepare for the application by taking pictures of flood damage and documenting repair costs

A new program from the Florida Division of Emergency Management is being rolled out to help with the recovery and mitigation efforts. 

Elevate Florida is the first statewide residential mitigation program of its kind. The goal of this program is to enhance community resilience by mitigating private residences against natural hazards.

Resident William Strohl has lived in his Deltona home for the past 20 years. His house has flooded twice, with Hurricane Ian in 2022 and more recently with Hurricane Milton. He still has standing water on his property. 

“When I bought this house, I never thought it would flood, never flooded after, you know, for over 20 years. And now it’s happened. It’s happened twice in three years. And, you know, I don’t see that changing,” Strohl said.

But now, with the new program from the Florida Division of Emergency Management, residents who qualify would be able to elevate their homes.

The program would help homeowners protect their properties in one of three ways: elevating their homes, reconstructing damaged properties or by purchasing at-risk homes. Strohl said he would consider the program as a potential solution. 

“Absolutely. I mean, if I know I won’t flood, I will be able to sleep better at night, that’s for sure,” he said.

Last year, the City of Deltona offered a similar alternative through the FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to elevate their homes above the base flood elevation. Strohl was among the residents who expressed interest in that solution. 

“I have stayed in contact with them about elevating the home or buying the house out. I guess I can have either option, you know. But those two wheels may turn very slowly when it comes to that,” Strohl said.

State leaders say residents can prepare for the application by taking pictures of flood damage and documenting repair costs.

Officials with the Florida Division of Emergency Management say more information about the program application and deadlines will be coming soon.

Residents with questions can also reach out to ResidentialMitigation@em.myflorida.com