FEMA Awards $2M in Public Assistance Grants

Tallahassee, Florida — FEMA has approved $2,068,350 to the State of Florida to assist 19 eligible applicants with reimbursement for eligible costs of debris removal, emergency protective measures, management costs and permanent repairs for Hurricane Michael under FEMA’s Public Assistance Program.

FEMA’s Public Assistance grant program is an essential source of funding for communities recovering from a federally declared disaster or emergency. Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) works with FEMA during all phases of the PA program and reviews these projects prior to FEMA final approval.

As of Aug. 1, 2019, the awards are:

Anchorage Children’s Home of Bay County – $132,287 for debris removal and emergency protective measures
Calhoun County – $10,601 for emergency protective measures/shelter and for repairs to the walking track at Kinard Park
Christ Church of Panama City – $219,139 for management costs
City Church at Northside in Panama City – $33,500 for emergency protective measures
City of Callaway – $188,117 for emergency protective measures
City of Chipley – $146,188 for repairs to the wastewater treatment plant, to replace downtown streetlights and signs and for repairs to 2nd, Coleman, Forrest, Pine and Woodrow Avenues, Martin Luther King Drive, Donnell and South Rail Roads, First, Third and Sixth Streets and Iona, Peach and Sinclair Streets
City of DeFuniak Springs – $15,159 for debris removal
City of Destin – $14,460 for debris removal
City of Gretna – $16,809 for emergency protective measures
City of Marianna – $36,584 to replace street signs citywide and for repairs to sidewalks, curbs and guardrails citywide
City of Port St. Joe – $87,820 for repairs to boardwalk/deck and retention pond at Rish Park, repairs to water treatment plant and for emergency protective measures/mutual aid agreement
Community Charter Academy in Panama City – $444,014 for debris removal and emergency protective measures
Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida – $6,880 for management costs
Emmaus United Methodist Church in Panama City – $100,332 for emergency protective measures
Fellowship Baptist Church in Panama City – $13,884 for debris removal
Florida Commission on Community Service – $26,708 for emergency protective measures
Florida Department of Veterans Affairs – $516,068 for emergency protective measures
Hiland Park United Methodist Church in Panama City – $54,738 to replace a portable classroom and its contents
Holmes County Sheriff’s Office – $5,062 for management costs

Once a project is obligated by FEMA, FDEM works closely with the applicant to finalize the grant and to begin making payments. FDEM has implemented new procedures designed to ensure grant funding is provided to local communities as quickly as possible.

FEMA has numerous other projects that have been identified under the Public Assistance program for Hurricane Michael and is working extensively with all applicants. The timeline for other projects being obligated depends on the complexity of the projects, collection of supporting documentation by the applicants, environmental and historical laws, regulations and other concerns.

Applicants provide FEMA with thorough documentation to support damage claims. Following approvals by FEMA and the FDEM, FEMA obligates funding for the project.

To date, FEMA has obligated a total of more than $237.7 million in federal funding for Public Assistance projects related to Hurricane Michael in Florida.