Pulse victims to receive payments by Oct. 1

ORLANDO, Fla. – Victims of the attack on the Pulse nightclub in Orlando will receive compensation from the OneOrlando Fund by Oct. 1, according to a press release issued by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer on Friday.

Lawyer Ken Feinberg will administer the fund -- combined with donations collected by Equality Florida -- for victims of the June 12 attack on the gay nightclub in what was the worst mass shooting in the nation's history.

Combined, the groups have raised more than $17 million to assist the families and victims of the attack. Forty-nine clubgoers were killed, 53 were wounded and hundreds of others were targeted by a shooter, who was later killed by police.

"Words cannot express how grateful we continue to be for the outpouring of generosity our community's received as the people from around the globe continue to contribute funds to OneOrlando to deliver the critical help and healing the victims' families and survivors need to aid in their recovery," Dyer said.

Feinberg will work with the Orlando community to develop a protocol outlining how the funds will be distributed, according to the press release.

"OneOrlando is committed to having an open and transparent process to ensure these decisions are made with input from victims' families and survivors and the larger community," the press release said.

Officials will hold two town hall meetings on Aug. 4 at Orlando's Amway Center to get feedback on the draft protocol.

Payments will be distributed by Oct. 1, according to the press release, and no overhead or administrative costs will be paid for from the fund.