Last week, from his seat on the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, D-Fla., announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is sending more than $8 million to the Tampa Bay region to help it recover from Hurricane Irma which hit the area in 2017.
Crist announced three FEMA grants on Friday.
Pinellas County will be getting $3,190,713.14 from FEMA for Emergency Protective Measures. FEMA is also sending $4,067,123.67 to Pinellas County for debris removal. The city of St. Petersburg will be getting $1,660,394.57 from FEMA for debris removal.
“Two years ago, Hurricane Irma made landfall in Southwest Florida, leaving a trail of destruction across the state,” Crist said on Friday. “While Pinellas was spared the worst of it, our communities suffered from flooding, power outages, and damaging winds – requiring an expensive cleanup and recovery effort.
“I am delighted to announce these grants to Pinellas and St. Petersburg that will help reimburse the millions spent on ensuring the well-being of our community and its residents before and after Irma,” Crist added.
Crist, who served a term as governor when he was a Republican, was elected to Congress as a Democrat in 2016 and represents parts of Pinellas County.
Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.
