Nearly a year after the destruction of Hurricane Irma, FEMA has awarded nearly $3 billion in disaster assistance to Florida recovery efforts, with the most recent case being more than $2.7 million earmarked for the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department.
Around 777,000 households have received individual assistance and all 67 counties of Florida have benefited from both the organization’s Public Assistance program and Hazard Mitigation grants program, according to the latest FEMA report. In the case of the Monroe County, reimbursements will be made for emergency protective measures undertaken at the time of the disaster, such as sandbagging, increased patrols and evacuation efforts.
Under the Public Assistance program, FEMA reimburses applicants no less than 75 percent of their eligible costs, with the remainder covered by nonfederal sources. That said, for efforts surrounding Irma’s aftermath, FEMA has approved 100 percent of total costs. More than 1,000 government entities and nonprofits throughout Florida are still seeking reimbursement for Hurricane Irma.
Efforts have been supplemented by $1.4 billion in loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration to homeowners, renters and businesses. Around $964 million has also been paid out by the National Flood Insurance Program to survivors, while another $9 million came to those whose jobs were affected through the Disaster Unemployment Assistance program run by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.
Irma, which struck in September last year, affected nearly 47 million residents.