As summer temperatures begin climbing across Florida, Flagler County Senior Services is urging older residents to seek help now if they are struggling to keep their homes cool.
The county is pointing seniors to the Emergency Home Energy Assistance Program, known as EHEAP, which provides eligible households with up to $2,000 to help cover overdue utility bills, shut-off notices, or critical HVAC repairs. The program is offered through a partnership with ElderSource, the area agency on aging for Northeast Florida.
“As summer heat intensifies, the temperatures inside a home can become unsafe very quickly,” said Senior Services Program Manager Brian Lee. “Extreme heat is especially dangerous for seniors. We want every older resident to know that support is available so they can stay safe and keep their homes cool.”
The concern is backed by data. According to the CDC’s Heat and Health Tracker, older adults face a higher risk of heat-related illness because of challenges regulating body temperature, chronic health conditions, and certain medications. Florida led the nation in heat-related emergency room visits and hospitalizations between 2018 and 2022, with more than 31,000 cases recorded. Seniors 65 and older accounted for 27% of the state’s heat-related deaths from 2010 to 2020.
The stakes are especially high in Flagler County, where more than 31% of residents are over the age of 65 — meaning even a brief loss of air conditioning can quickly become a medical emergency.
To qualify for EHEAP, a household must have at least one resident age 60 or older and meet income eligibility requirements. Assistance can be used up to twice per year. County staff encourages seniors and their caregivers to reach out before a cooling crisis happens — not after.
For more information or to apply, contact Flagler County Senior Services at (386) 586-2324, Ext. 3621, or visit www.flaglercounty.gov. Updates are also available on the Flagler County Government Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FlaglerCountyGovernment.
