FEMA Awards Nearly $1.2M in Public Assistance Grants

Tallahassee, Florida – FEMA has approved $1,167,393 to the State of Florida to assist 18 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:

Jackson County – $9,416 to provide a temporary facility for courthouse operations from Oct. 26 Nov. 24, 2018
Leon County – $7,240 for repairs to shed at Fort Braden Library
Leon County School Board – $12,163 for repairs to school district office/Administration East
North Florida Educational Development Corporation – $9,101 for emergency protective measures, tarping of roof-damaged facilities and clearing right of ways
Northstar Church in Panama City – $38,472 for debris removal
Panacea Area Water System – $5,037 to repair/replace a fire hydrant, water storage shed and tank and six residential meter boxes
Parkway Presbyterian Church in Panama City – $150,500 for emergency protective measures
School of Arts and Sciences in Tallahassee – $533 for management costs
Tallahassee Community College – $112,009 for emergency protective measures
Town of Havana – $5,503 for repairs to Gus Bert Field and fencing at Well House and a lift station
Town of Malone – $25,935 for repairs to town hall, community center, maintenance office and two maintenance storage buildings
Twin Oaks Juvenile Development in Bristol – $2,400 for repairs to security fence
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Church in Panama City – $4,400 for debris removal
Victory of Faith Fellowship in Southport – $1,536 for management costs
Victory Tabernacle Church of God in Christ in Grand Ridge – $74,017 for management costs and repairs to main church building, pastor’s parsonage and storage building, as well as replacing church contents
Washington County – $577,620 for emergency protective measures
Washington County School Board – $21,235 for food spoilage at 22 schools, repairs to the pole barn at Vernon High School and the football referee dressing room at Old Vernon High School
Zion Hope Baptist Church in Panama City – $110,276 for repairs to the church building and to replace contents and equipment

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.