Appeals

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Kevin Guthrie                                                                         Elizabeth Kissel

Director                                                                                  Program Coordinator

Florida Division of Emergency Management                        Escambia County

2555 Shumard Oak Boulevard                                               221 Palafox Place

Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2100                                           Pensacola, Florida 32399-2100

Dear Kevin Guthrie and Elizabeth Kissel:

This is in response to an undated letter from the Florida Division of Emergency Management (Recipient) office, which transmitted the referenced second appeal on behalf of Escambia County (Applicant). The Applicant is appealing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) denial of $45,000.00 in costs pertaining to bridge, channel, and embankment repairs.

Section 423(a) of the Stafford Act provides that any decision regarding eligibility for assistance may be appealed within 60 days after the date on which the applicant is notified of the award or denial of assistance. Implementing this provision, Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 206.206(c) (2019), requires that applicants must file appeals within 60 days after receipt of a notice of the action that is being appealed. Recipients must then review and forward appeals within 60 days after receipt of the appeal from the applicant.

According to the Administrative Record, the Applicant received notice of FEMA’s denial of funding by way of an email on December 8, 2022. However, the Applicant filed its second appeal on February 14, 2023. This was after the 60 calendar-day timeframe required by FEMA’s regulations, making the second appeal untimely. Therefore, this appeal is denied.

This determination is the final decision on this matter pursuant to 44 C.F.R. § 206.206, Appeals.

                                                                               Sincerely,        

                                                                                   /S/

                                                                               Tod Wells

                                                                               Deputy Director for Policy

                                                                                Public Assistance Division

cc:  Gracia B. Szczech  

       Regional Administrator

       FEMA Region 4