President Joe Biden declared a major disaster in Florida on Tuesday, providing federal aid for recovery efforts following severe weather in North Florida.

President Joe Biden declared a major disaster in Florida and ordered federal aid for recovery efforts following severe weather in North Florida on May 10.

Biden’s declaration makes Federal funding available in Leon County, where 115 miles per hour winds caused an estimated 500 power poles broken, 91 damaged transformers, and one substation to go offline. The assistance also includes temporary housing and home repair grants, low-cost loans for uninsured property losses, and other recovery programs.

Aid is also available on a cost-sharing basis for debris removal and repairs in the counties of Baker, Gadsden, Hamilton, Lafayette, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Suwanee, Taylor and Wakulla. In addition, federal funding is available statewide on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures.

Severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes, according to estimates.

Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, with the support of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, wrote open letter to the President on May 23 requesting the disaster declaration.

“In light of the extraordinary scope of the destruction and the extent of outstanding clean-up and recovery efforts, federal assistance is needed to ensure Floridians fully recover,” the letter stated.

John E. Brogan of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.

“These tornadoes were devastating, but with the full support of local, state and federal partners, these communities will fully recover,” Scott said following the declaration.