LAKE MARY, Fla. – FEMA continues to support the state of Florida by approving nearly $178 million in federal disaster recovery funds in August, bringing the total approved since Jan. 20 to more than $804 million.
The state is leading recovery efforts from multiple federally declared disasters, most recently Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Since Jan. 20, FEMA has approved more than 2,900 state and local recovery projects through the state-managed Public Assistance program. This funding helps cover items like road repairs, critical infrastructure restoration, debris removal and other emergency actions taken to protect life and property following major disasters.
Here are some of the large FEMA grants provided to the state and communities in August alone:
- $25.4 million for various disaster debris removal operations across the state.
- $17.4 million to Polk County.
- $5.7 million to Panama City.
- $1.3 million to Brevard County.
- $1 million to the City of DeBary.
- $17.3 million to the Florida Division of Emergency Management for its non-congregate sheltering program for Hurricane Helene survivors.
- $14.5 million to the Florida Division of Emergency Management to reimburse the cost of power restoration efforts in Lee County following Hurricane Ian. This grant is the fifth installment in a series of obligations.
- $11.3 million to Lee County School District to reimburse for damages to Fort Myers Beach Elementary School, as storm surge and winds from Ian caused extensive damage to 12 buildings.
- $8.7 million to Flagler County for restoration of dunes along vulnerable coastal areas damaged by Hurricane Milton, reducing risk of erosion and future storm surge.
- $3.7 million to the City of Flagler Beach for replacement of the Flagler Beach Fishing Pier, a landmark structure vital to the city’s tourism economy and community identity.
- $6.3 million to Central Florida Electric Cooperative for repair of power distribution systems damaged by Hurricane Idalia across Dixie and Levy counties.
- $3.5 million to Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative Inc. for restoration of Idalia-damaged electrical and communications systems, including:
- $2.5 million for restoration of the electric distribution system, which serves thousands of customers.
- $1 million to repair severe damage to the for the fiber optic network communications system, which is an extension of the electrical network.
- $1.1 million to the City of St. Petersburg for comfort stations set-up to provide temporary restroom and laundry facilities for Hurricane Helene survivors.
Various other projects statewide add up to more than $85 million and round out the total to nearly $178 million approved in August. FEMA is reimbursing these costs at no less than a 75% federal share through its Public Assistance Program. The program provides funding to state, tribal, territorial, and local governments, as well as certain nonprofit organizations, for disaster response and recovery work.
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FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during and after disasters.
For the latest information about Florida recovery, visit fema.gov/locations/florida. Follow FEMA Region 4 @FEMARegion4 on X or follow FEMA on social media at: FEMA Blog on fema.gov, @FEMA or @FEMAEspanol on X, FEMA or FEMA Espanol on Facebook, @FEMA on Instagram, and via FEMA YouTube channel.