The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced on Monday that it has approved $123,610,893 to reimburse the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for debris removal activities following Hurricane Michael which hit the Sunshine State almost three years ago.
The funds will reimburse FDOT for debris cleanup activities between Oct. 2018 to July 2019 throughout Bay, Calhoun, Gadsden and Jackson Counties. Work completed includes collecting and removing 6,757,955 cubic yards of vegetative debris, 460,645 cubic yards of construction and demolition debris, 49,238 hazardous leaning trees, 48,617 hanging limbs and 2,427 hazardous stumps from public roads and property, infrastructure and rights of way that posed a threat to public health and safety.
This brings FEMA’s total grants for the department’s Hurricane Michael-related expenses to $179 million.
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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