The Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) announced this week that it has approved grants totaling $36,331,673 to reimburse recovery expenses in Florida for Hurricane Michael which hit the state in 2018.
Funding from FEMA’s Public Assistance program will provide the following reimbursements:
- Bay County: $1,044,002 for the cost of demolishing and replacing the county’s hurricane-damaged courthouse annex.
- The former Bay Medical Center: $2,380,735 for repairs to the Tom Cooley building, including removing and replacing hurricane-damaged roofing, flooring, insulation, windows and lighting fixtures. Bay Medical Center was acquired by Ascension and Sacred Heart Health System in March 2019.
- Palm Bay Education Group, Inc (school-Palm Bay Prep Academy): $6,432,733 for repairs to classrooms, gymnasium and shed, and replacement of the auditorium.
- West Florida Electric Cooperative Association Inc.: $25,045,607 for repairs to hurricane-damaged electrical grids, including repairs to electrical power poles, power distribution lines and transformers caused by high winds, rain and flooding.
- West Florida Electric Cooperative Association Inc.: $1,428,596 for repairs to hurricane-damaged street and safety lighting.
FEMA’s Public Assistance program is an essential source of funding for communities recovering from a federally declared disaster or emergency. The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) works with FEMA during all phases of the program and reviews projects prior to FEMA final approval.
Applicants work directly with FEMA to develop projects and scopes of work. FEMA obligates funding for projects to FDEM after final approval.
Once a project is obligated, FDEM works closely with applicants to finalize grants and begin making payments. FDEM has procedures in place designed to ensure grant funding is provided to local communities as quickly as possible.
FEMA’s Public Assistance program provides grants to state, tribal and local governments, and certain private nonprofit organizations, including houses of worship, so communities can quickly respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies.
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