Florida News Straight From the Source
On the two-year anniversary of Hurricane Irma’s landfall, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and Rebuild Florida today are marking Hurricane Irma recovery milestones as well as the remaining work ahead. [Read more…] about On Anniversary of Hurricane Irma, Department of Economic Opportunity, Rebuild Florida Mark Disaster Recovery Milestones and Work Ahead
Governor DeSantis today announced that Hurricane Irma costs in Florida have reached $2.63 billion, triggering an increase in the federal cost share from 75 percent to 90 percent. [Read more…] about Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Threshold Met for Increased Federal Cost Share for Hurricane Irma
Governor Ron DeSantis today announced that the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) has approved more than $77 million in payments to citrus growers impacted by Hurricane Irma through the Citrus Recovery Block Grant since January 2019. [Read more…] about Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Approval of More than $77 Million to Citrus Growers Impacted by Hurricane Irma
Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) Executive Director Ken Lawson today issued a call for qualified general contractors to assist the Rebuild Florida program. [Read more…] about Florida DEO Seeking Additional General Contractors to Help Rebuild Florida Repair and Rebuild Homes Damaged by Hurricane Irma
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) today announced the extension of the registration deadline for Rebuild Florida to Friday, March 29, 2019. Rebuild Florida is a long-term recovery effort to repair and rebuild the homes of Florida families that were significantly damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Irma. [Read more…] about Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Announces Extension for Rebuild Florida Registration
As Hurricane Florence grows and threatens the southeastern U.S. coast, Governor Scott today spoke with Georgia Governor Nathan Deal, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and Virginia Governor Ralph Northam to offer resources and assistance. Florence strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane this afternoon and is forecast to impact the southeastern U.S. coast later this week. [Read more…] about Gov. Scott: While Families Remember Irma and Prepare for Florence, Florida Offers Support
With the anniversary of Hurricane Irma upon us, FHCA Executive Director Emmett Reed has released the following statement regarding residents’ safety, member center compliance, and continued preparations in the wake of Irma’s destruction. [Read more…] about FHCA’s Emmet Reed on Irma Anniversary
Today, Governor Rick Scott urged the legislative commission charged with granting spending authority to approve $340 million in federal funding to aid Florida’s citrus growers. Earlier this year, following months of Governor Scott fighting for critical funding and support for Florida’s citrus industry, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced $340 million in federal funding to aid the Florida citrus industry’s recovery from Hurricane Irma. Now that a grant for this funding has been approved in an agreement between the USDA and the State of Florida, it will be considered by the Florida Legislative Budget Commission (LBC) tomorrow. The block grant for Florida citrus is part of a more than $2.3 billion federal package approved earlier this year.
Governor Rick Scott today announced the state’s action plan for the $616 million allocated to Florida’s long-term recovery efforts from Hurricane Irma has been submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The funding comes to the state through the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program and will be used to replace and repair damaged homes, build new affordable housing and provide grants to severely impacted businesses. HUD now has 45 days to provide feedback or to approve the plan. CDBG-DR funding is provided to a state after all other resources have already been exhausted, including federal assistance through FEMA and the Small Business Administration as well as private insurance.
Governor Scott said, “Even before Hurricane Irma made landfall, we began working with the federal government to express the diverse needs our state would face following a storm of this magnitude and how best to address those needs. Since the storm, we have worked tirelessly along-side community and business leaders to build stronger communities that are better prepared for future disasters. I’m glad that DEO submitted this plan to help families in our state.”
This federal grant program requires that at least 80 percent of funding be used to address needs in the hardest-hit counties and ZIP codes as determined by HUD. These areas include Brevard, Broward, Collier, Duval, Lee, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Orange, Polk and Volusia counties, as well as ZIP codes 32136, 32091, 32068 and 34266.
Over the past few months, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) visited with each of the 14 hardest-hit communities to hear directly from community leaders about their remaining needs following Hurricane Irma. Additionally, surveys were sent to each community, seeking input on how to best support local long-term recovery.
Cissy Proctor, Executive Director of DEO, “We are thankful to these communities for their commitment and partnership to determine the best way to use this funding to make a difference across the state. We are committed to helping Floridians recover, particularly families who do not have the resources to rebound as quickly after a disaster.”
Together, with Florida’s hardest-hit communities, the state has proposed to allocate the majority of CDBG-DR funding to address housing needs through programs that:
Additionally, the state action plan includes opportunities to address critical economic and infrastructure needs in our urban centers and rural communities, specifically those of the Florida Keys which experienced the brunt of this devastating storm. Also, this plan helps to support the needs of new Floridians who moved to our state from Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria.
For more information about the CDBG-DR program or to view the state action plan, click here.
Volunteer Florida, the state’s agency responsible for securing volunteers and donations before, during and after disasters, distributed more than $5 million from the Florida Disaster Fund Hurricane Irma Recovery Grant today. Following a competitive Request for Proposal process, 33 different organizations, providing crucial repair, restoration and reconstruction or replacement services throughout Florida, were selected to receive the funding.
The Florida Disaster Fund was established to assist communities as they respond to and recover from emergencies or disasters. Last September, Governor Scott activated the fund to finance organizations, like the recent grantees, that serve those impacted by Hurricane Irma.
“Volunteer Florida is proud to support organizations that invest in Florida’s future and prove the state’s resiliency,” said Vivian Myrtetus, CEO of Volunteer Florida. “From community-wide transformations to satisfying individual needs, these funds will be used to ensure the devastating effects of Hurricane Irma do not stand in the way of Floridians’ continued success.”
The grantees are as follows:
Volunteer Florida is the Governor’s lead agency for volunteerism and national service in Florida, administering more than $32 million in federal, state and local funding to deliver high-impact national service and volunteer programs in Florida. Volunteer Florida promotes and encourages volunteerism to meet critical needs across the state, and also serves as Florida’s lead agency for volunteers and donations before, during and after disasters.
Established in accordance with Section 14.29 (9), Florida Statutes, the Volunteer Florida Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. The Florida Disaster Fund, administered by the Volunteer Florida Foundation, was established in 2004 to assist with needs unmet by other disaster relief organizations.
