The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced on Monday that it has approved $1,876,750 to the state of Florida to reimburse First Baptist Church, Panama City for the costs of emergency protective measures taken following Hurricane Michael in 2018.
The funds will reimburse First Baptist Church for labor, materials and equipment which addressed the immediate threat to the health and safety of the general public in eight of the church’s primary buildings to include mold remediation for high temperatures and water intrusion, tarping over roofs, boarding up windows, water removal and the use of dehumidifiers, fans, air conditioning units and multiple generator sets.
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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