FEMA approves additional $480 million for Florida disaster recovery projects
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced more than $480 million in federal funding to support more than 500 disaster recovery projects statewide in Florida, according to a press release by the agency.
The local and state-managed projects include $180 million for rebuilding or restoring critical infrastructure and public facilities, more than $136.6 million for emergency measures to protect life and property and $66.3 million for clearing debris from public roads.
Notable funding allocations include:
• Nearly $83.9 million for permanent repairs or replacement of parks and recreational equipment, buildings, docks and facilities, including $19.7 million for St. Johns County, $16.5 million for the city of St. Petersburg for Tropicana Field, $5.7 million for the city of Sanford marina and more than $4.7 million for Flagler County beach dune repair.
• An additional $37 million for Charlotte County for emergency work, beach repair and coastal protection.
• More than $35.8 million for permanent repairs or replacement of buildings and equipment, which includes $2.9 million for Broward County, more than $2.4 million for Manatee County Port Authority and more than $1.2 million for the city of Punta Gorda.
• More than $26.7 million for permanent repairs or replacement to utilities, power generation and distribution facilities. This includes $10.4 million for Tri-County Electric Cooperative and $4.1 million for the city of Bartow for repair or replacement of conductors, power poles and transformers.
• More than $25.7 million for permanent repairs to water works facilities, which includes more than $10.9 million for the city of Fort Lauderdale after severe storms and flooding.
• $9.3 million to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, $8.2 million to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and more than $5.9 million to the Florida Department of Health for emergency measures to protect public safety.
Funds are distributed to the state through the Public Assistance program, which is state managed, locally executed and FEMA supported.