FEMA Gives More than $35.8 Million in Public Assistance Funds
Release Date: March 31, 2005
Release Number: 1539-420
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ORLANDO, Fla. -- Today, the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Florida State Emergency Response Team (SERT) announced more than $35.8 million in Public Assistance funds to several Florida cities and counties. This recent wave of funding brings the total amount of Public Assistance for Florida cities, counties and municipalities to more than $869 million.
More than $27 million of the total announced today will pay for debris removal in Brevard, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Putnam and Santa Rosa counties. More than $7 million of this amount is heading to Brevard County alone.
"We are working with the state to give counties and cities all the funding we can as quickly as possible so they can clean up and build back," said Dan Craig, director of FEMA's Recovery Division. "FEMA is committed to being in Florida and working with every applicant for as long as it takes to ensure all eligible damage costs from the 2004 hurricanes are funded."
Putnam County and the municipalities of Jupiter and Wellington in Palm Beach County will receive expedited funding which advances up to 50 percent of the federal cost share for eligible expenses incurred by local governments to pay for debris removal and emergency protective measures. This includes such costs as overtime, equipment, materials and contracts for emergency work.
"Our mission is to help ensure that Florida's impacted communities receive all the eligible funds that they are entitled to in a timely manner," said Frank Koutnik, deputy state coordinating officer for Recovery with the SERT. "We greatly appreciate these essential dollars and FEMA's ongoing commitment to the state's rebuilding process."
To date, the state of Florida has paid out over $394 million with over $181 million in various stages of the state payment process. The state payment process can take from two to four weeks depending on the number of banking days available and the volume of total requests being handled at that particular time.
Payments on projects less than $54,100 are paid to applicants without any action required on their part. However, payment processing on projects greater than $54,100 begins only after the applicant submits a request to the state. The request may be submitted directly online at www.floridapa.org or through conventional methods. (Find out more about FEMA and Florida public assistance funding processes on attached backgrounder.)
FEMA Obligates More than $35.8 Million in Public Assistance Funds to Florida
Brevard County: $7 million - Debris removal
Escambia County: $1.3 million - Replacement of Legal Services Building
Martin County: $1.1 million - Construct emergency protective berms
Orange County: $4.2 million to - Debris removal
(Orange County) Orlando Utilities Commission: $2.9 million - Remove vegetative debris
Osceola County: $2.9 million - Debris removal
(Palm Beach County) Town of Jupiter: $1.8 million - EXPEDITED debris removal
(Palm Beach County) Village of Wellington: $1.5 million - EXPEDITED debris removal
Pasco County: $1.6 million - Debris removal
Putnam County: $1 million - EXPEDITED debris removal
Santa Rosa County: $4.2 million - Debris removal
Santa Rosa County: $1.2 million - Efforts to return Navarre Beach to pre-disaster condition
St. Lucie County: $3.6 million - Restore mosquito impoundments on North and South Hutchison Islands
St. Lucie County: $1 million - Sand to construct emergency berm
The State Emergency Response Team (SERT) is a collaboration of Florida's state agencies led by the state coordinating officer. SERT's mission is to ensure that Florida is prepared to respond to emergencies, recover from them, and mitigate their impacts. Visit www.floridadisaster.org for the latest information on the hurricane relief efforts.
FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Thursday, 31-Mar-2005 16:26:49