FEMA Awards FDOT Over $11.2 Million for Hurricane Michael Expenses

Tallahassee, Florida — FEMA has approved $11,264,877 to the state of Florida to assist the Florida Department of Transportation with reimbursement for the costs of emergency protective measures following Hurricane Michael under FEMA’s Public Assistance Program.

FEMA funds will reimburse the department for actions it performed to remove immediate threats to public health and safety, such as purchasing bulk fuel and equipment for all preparation, response and recovery efforts for statewide use, following the October 2018 storm.

This is an Expedited Project, which is awarded at 50 percent of eligible costs incurred. The remaining 50 percent of the grant is awarded once applicants provide all supporting documentation for the project. The total project cost is $22,529,754.

The grant is funded by FEMA’s Public Assistance program, an essential source of funding for communities recovering from a federally declared disaster or emergency. The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) works with FEMA during all phases of the program and conducts final reviews of FEMA-approved projects.

Applicants work directly with FEMA to develop projects and scopes of work. FEMA obligates funding for the project after the agency and FDEM approve it.

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

FEMA’s Public Assistance program provides grants to state, tribal, and local governments, and certain types of private non-profit organizations, including houses of worship, so that communities can quickly respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies.