JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Sunday added Duval to the list of Florida counties where residents are eligible to receive federal disaster assistance to pay for damage from Tropical Storm Fay, which left a trail of flooding and downed trees through much of the state more than a week ago.

Individual assistance is now available in 10 counties: Brevard, Duval, Hendry, Lee, Leon, Okeechobee, Seminole, St. Lucie, Volusia and Wakulla counties.

Individual assistance can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses not met by insurance or other assistance programs. Low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration also will be available to cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance.

Also Sunday, Alachua, Hamilton and other counties were added to those eligible for public assistance -- reimbursement for government expenses and losses. Nearly half of Florida's counties are now able to receive FEMA money to help with public response costs, infrastructure damage and other losses.

Public assistance grants are awarded to help pay for emergency protective measures such as police overtime, debris clearance to open vital roads and rights-of-way, removal of threats to public safety and permanent repairs to roads, public buildings, utilities and parks. Permanent work involves restoring infrastructure to its pre-disaster design. This could range from minor repairs to total replacement.

FEMA officials said the assistance was approved based on a review of damage data gathered by federal and state disaster recovery officials.

Late last week, with its damage assessment 95 percent complete, the city of Jacksonville said more than 600 homes reported some type of damage from Fay or associated flooding. That was estimated to amount to $8.2 million in damages to private property.

Nassau County, where officials estimated $2.3 million just in response costs and damage to public facilities, FEMA has authorized public assistance, but not added individual assistance.

A week after the Fay left the area, the St. Marys River remained near 5 feet over flood stage and was slowly falling. Residents around Thomas Creek, near Callahan, had to be rescued in boats by the Florida National Guard. Fifty homes were estimated to be damaged or destroyed.

Affected residents and business owners in counties FEMA has authorized for individual assistance may apply by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) from 7 a.m. to midnight seven days a week. Those with a speech-and hearing impairment may call the TTY number at 800-462-7585. Online registration is available at FEMA.gov.

Applicants are advised to have the following information available to help speed up the application process: their current phone number; their address at the time of the disaster and the address where they are now staying; their Social Security number, if available; a general list of damages and losses they suffered; if insured, their insurance policy number, or the agent and company name.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status.

SBA's disaster loans are the primary form of federal assistance for non-farm, private sector disaster losses. Disaster loans from SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and nonprofit organizations fund repair and replacement of disaster damaged real and personal property. For information, call 800-659-2955 or visit SBA.gov.

For statewide disaster information, visit FloridaDisaster.org.