Legal Aid Society Helps Jupiter Residents Apply for FEMA

JUPITER, FL – September 21, 2017 – Christina Russo, a staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, encouraged men and women in our labor hall to determine if they are eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency benefits.

Hurricane Irma hit Florida on Sunday, September 10. Residents faced winds exceeding 130 mph. Those displaced by the storm, or those who suffered property damage, are eligible for benefits.

“If you think you are eligible for FEMA relief, you should apply,” Russo said. “Everybody who lost power, or if you lost food, or you had to evacuate, or you had to pay for gas for that, or you had to pay for gas for a generator because you didn’t have power, FEMA can potentially reimburse you for all that.”

Plywood purchases by renters and other expenses could qualify for a reimbursement by FEMA, Russo said, “but you don’t know unless you apply for it.”

Accompanied by colleagues, Russo also updated men and women at El Sol about the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) programs.

According to its website, the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County strives to provide high quality civil legal advice, representation and education to people with low incomes.

Andrew Batog, a staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County

The nonprofit law firm helps individuals with immigration, tax, housing, consumer, family and domestic violence issues, Russo said.

The Legal Aid Society sends attorneys to El Sol nearly every week to answer questions from people in Jupiter. They are available on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (except the first Friday of the month.)

You can also apply for Legal Aid Society services online at www.legalaidpbc.org.