FEMA funding headed to four local municipalities impacted by Hurricane Ian in 2022

Several communities impacted by one of the most intense hurricanes in recent Florida history four years ago are still getting some financial assistance in rebuilding from the natural disaster.

FloridaCommerce, the state’s economic development bureau, announced recently its entering another round of financial awards as part of the Hurricane Ian Hazard Mitigation Grant Match Program (HMGMP). It’s part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) local match requirements for infrastructure repairs and recovery from the Category 4 storm that hit Florida in September 2022.

FloridaCommerce is distributing $7.2 million in HMGMP grants in the latest fund distribution. The FEMA funds are designed to not only provide infrastructure recovery, but also improve emergency preparedness and reduce the impact of future storms.

“Thanks to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ commitment to strengthening our state’s long-term resiliency, Florida communities are getting the support they need to bolster critical infrastructure and storm-readiness,” said Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly in a news release.

“Because of our strong partnerships with local governments across the state, Florida communities can rest assured that they will have the resources they need to future-proof their critical infrastructure, help their residents recover and ensure their businesses can bounce back — even when the storm has long passed.”

Ian made landfall Sept. 22 four years ago near Fort Myers and then plowed through the peninsula.

The municipalities to receive the latest FEMA funding include Charlotte County which will get $5.83 million for erecting a public works hurricane-safe room generator. Another $93,392 will also go to a leachate waste plant generator project in Charlotte.

Another $750,840 is heading to the Port of the Islands Community Improvement District to pay for a Union Road water storage and infrastructure retrofit project.

Seminole County has $319,437 in FEMA funds earmarked for that municipality in order to for a mitigation reconstruction project on Shad Lane.

And the city of Palatka has $283,996 headed for that municipality where a lift station generator will built with the money.

The Ian HMGMP program has already distributed more than $12 million in grants to municipalities in the wake of Ian. The FEMA funding is provided on the condition the local governments will match the same amount of local money to complete the projects.