The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced this week that it has approved three Public Assistance grants totaling $7,159,415 to reimburse the state of Florida for Hurricane Michael recovery expenses. Hurricane Michael hit the Sunshine State three years ago
Bay District Schools: $1,368,183 for permanent repairs to eight of the A. Crawford Mosley High School buildings to bring those facilities back to their pre-disaster design, function and capacity. This reimbursement brings the total of FEMA grants for the school district to $115.3 million.
Board of Trustees of Bay Medical Center: $3,557,485 for permanent repairs to five of the hospital’s core buildings in Panama City to return them to their pre-disaster design, function and capacity. This reimbursement brings the total of FEMA grants for the Board of Trustees to $47.6 million.
City of Mexico Beach: $2,233,745 for the emergency protective measures it implemented to protect the health and safety of residents in response to Hurricane Michael. The amount will offset the city’s non-federal cost share for the grant. The city used donated labor, equipment and materials to complete the work between Oct. 13, 2018 and Dec. 19, 2019. This reimbursement brings the total of FEMA grants for the city to $90.6 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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