FEMA awards more than $ 1.5 million to Osceola County to cover expenses caused by Hurricane Irma

ORLANDO, Fla.– The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved $ 1,516,368 for the State of Florida to help Osceola County defray the costs of repairing the county facilities that were damaged by Hurricane Irma. Funds are provided under the FEMA Public Assistance Program.
 
FEMA funds will reimburse Osceola County for the repair of three county court buildings — the garage, courthouse number two, and the administration building — that were damaged by Hurricane Irma. Repairs will restore these facilities to their design, function, and capacity before the disaster, within their existing footprints. Most of this funding— $ 860,000 — was used to repair the administration building.
 
Funding for this Public Assistance (PA) project is authorized in accordance with Section 403 of the Robert T. Stafford Act for Florida to cover expenses related to Hurricane Irma, reimbursing eligible applicants for debris collection expenses; emergency protection measures implemented to save lives; and arrangements, replacement or restoration of facilities damaged by the disaster, such as buildings, streets and public services.
 
The FEMA Public Assistance grant program is an essential source of funding for communities recovering from a federal disaster or emergency. The Florida Division of Emergency Management works with FEMA during all stages of the PA program and performs final reviews for projects approved by FEMA.
 
Applicants work with FEMA directly to develop project worksheets and work areas. After FEMA and FDEM approvals, FEMA obligates the funds for the project.
 
The FEMA Public Assistance program provides grants to state, tribal and local governments, and to certain types of private nonprofit organizations and praise temples, so that communities can respond and recover quickly after major disasters or emergencies.
 
The federal part for Public Assistance projects is a minimum of 75 percent of the eligible cost. The state determines how the non-federal portion of the project expenses (a maximum of 25 percent) will be shared with applicants, such as local or county governments.