FEMA awards Florida $24.1M for Hurricane Michael cleanup

The Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) has approved $24.1 million to the state of Florida to assist West Florida Electric Cooperative Association with reimbursement for the costs of emergency measures following Hurricane Michael.

The grant will reimburse West Florida Electric for debris clearance and providing temporary power restoration following the October 2018 storm. It is funded by FEMA’s Public Assistance program, which was created as a source of funding for communities recovering from a federally declared disaster or emergency.

Applicants work directly with FEMA to develop projects and scopes of work. In Florida, the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) worked with FEMA during all phases of the program. FDEM will conduct the final reviews of the FEMA-approved projects.

Following approvals, FEMA obligates funding for the project. Once FEMA obligates a project, FDEM works closely with the applicant to finalize the grant and begin making payments. FDEM has implemented new procedures to make sure grant funding is provided to local communities as quickly as possible.

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