Florida Gets FEMA Grants To Reduce Tornado Risks
Release Date: May 2, 2008
Release Number: R4-08-120
ATLANTA, Ga. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency approved nearly 1 million dollars for three Florida counties to help keep their citizens safe during tornadoes.
FEMA has announced 12 grants totaling $790,405 toward projects that have total approved costs of $1,053,877. The money comes from Hazard Mitigation Grant program (HMGP) funds FEMA made available to Florida in the wake of tornadoes that struck the state on Christmas Day 2006 and Groundhog Day 2007.
Six of the grants will help improve notification to citizens, including one that is specific to schoolchildren. Four will retrofit public buildings to make them better resist high winds and two will make better communication technology available to first responders.
"These communities obviously worked hard to find ways to use these funds to benefit their citizens. This is a great example of the local, state and federal governments working together to protect and help all," said FEMA Region IV Regional Administrator Phil May.
"We are grateful to Administrator May and our colleagues at FEMA Region IV for their ongoing partnership and commitment to communities across the Sunshine State," said Florida Emergency Management Director Craig Fugate. "These vital mitigation projects will help protect and benefit residents and first responders daily."
Here is a list of the projects, with total eligible cost and federal share:
Lake County:
|
Emergency notification system (ENS) for mass notification of citizens |
$142,688 |
$107,016 |
|
Weather radios for citizens |
$18,000 |
$13,500 |
|
Training for staff and citizens on weather radios and ENS |
$11,970 |
$8,978 |
Sumter County:
|
Retrofit Sheriff's Office |
$29,379 |
$22,034 |
|
Retrofit Center Hill City Hall |
$11,782 |
$8,837 |
|
Retrofit Lake Panasoffkee Recreation Community Building |
$370,500 |
$277,875 |
|
Enhance audio/video technology in Emergency Operations Center |
$54,778 |
$41,084 |
|
Provide WebEOC software in Emergency Operations Center |
$70,606 |
$52,955 |
|
ENS for mass notification of citizens |
$15,000 |
$11,250 |
Volusia County:
|
Retrofit New Smyrna Beach utility operations building |
$61,959 |
$46,469 |
|
System to alert 90,000 students/staff in Volusia County School District |
$232,020 |
$174,015 |
|
ENS for mass notification of mobile/manufactured housing residents |
$35,195 |
$26,392 |
The grant to Volusia County for reaching residents of mobile and manufactured homes is from HMGP funds tied to the Christmas Day 2006 tornado, and the other 11 grants are from the Groundhog Day 2007 event.
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
This release has been modified from its original version.
Last Modified: Friday, 02-May-2008 16:47:52