FEMA Reimburses $1.7 Million to Callaway for Hurricane Michael Expenses

Tallahassee, Florida  — FEMA has approved $1,766,258 for the state of Florida to assist the city of Callaway with reimbursement for the costs of debris removal following Hurricane Michael under FEMA’s Public Assistance Program.

FEMA funds will reimburse the city for the collection, reduction, disposal and site management of debris within Callaway following the October 2018 storm.

This is the completion of an Expedited Project, which was first awarded at 50 percent of eligible costs incurred. The initial 50 percent of the grant was awarded in April. The total project cost is $3,532,516.

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 PA program and reviews these projects prior to FEMA final approval.

Applicants work directly with FEMA to develop projects and scopes of work. FEMA obligates funding for the project after its final approval.

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.