FEMA Awards $116 Million to Florida for Hurricane Recovery and Resilience

FEMA is distributing more than $116 million to Florida for 88 recovery and resilience projects in the wake of recent hurricanes, including Milton, Debby, and Ian. The funding is split between immediate recovery assistance and long-term mitigation efforts designed to protect communities from future storms.

The bulk of the money—more than $66 million—will go through FEMA's Public Assistance program to reimburse communities for debris removal, emergency response, and repair of critical infrastructure. Manatee County is receiving the largest single award at nearly $44 million, primarily for clearing more than 1.2 million cubic yards of debris from roads and public property. Lee County will get more than $3.8 million for debris removal and beach park repairs, while Pinellas County receives over $1.8 million for damage assessments and emergency measures.

The remaining $50 million will fund hazard mitigation projects through FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, supporting proactive measures such as elevating flood-prone structures, improving drainage systems, adopting stricter building codes, and upgrading utilities and infrastructure to withstand future storms. No specific local Panhandle projects were detailed in FEMA's announcement, though these funds typically flow to counties statewide as applications are approved.