Hurricane Irma struck Florida on September 10, 2017, causing widespread damage across the state. In the aftermath of the storm, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided billions of dollars in assistance to help the state and its communities recover and rebuild. Here’s a breakdown of FEMA’s financial support for Hurricane Irma recovery efforts in Florida.
Individual and Household Assistance
FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program has provided over $1 billion in assistance to Florida residents affected by Hurricane Irma. This includes:
$693.4 million in Housing Assistance, with $503.8 million for rental assistance and $180.8 million for home repairs
$307 million in Other Needs Assistance for disaster-related expenses such as transportation, childcare, and funeral costs
As of July 18, 2022, FEMA had provided $1 billion in Individual Assistance to 774,691 households in Florida.
Public Assistance
FEMA’s Public Assistance program provides grants to state and local governments and certain nonprofit organizations for emergency response, debris removal, and infrastructure repair. As of March 18, 2021, FEMA had provided over $2 billion in Public Assistance grants to Florida, including:
$964.99 million for debris removal and disposal
$549.93 million for emergency response costs
$42.85 million for repairing roads and bridges
$37.18 million for repairing water control facilities
$112.28 million for repairing or replacing buildings and equipment
$111.63 million for repairing utilities
$132.02 million for repairing parks and recreation facilities
As of July 18, 2022, FEMA had obligated $2.45 billion for 7,943 rebuilding projects under the Public Assistance program.
Hazard Mitigation Assistance
FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program provides funding for long-term hazard mitigation measures to reduce the loss of life and property due to natural disasters. As of July 18, 2022, FEMA had obligated $304 million for additional mitigation projects in Florida.
In addition to FEMA’s assistance, the U.S. Small Business Administration has provided $1.43 billion in low-interest disaster loans to 37,083 applicants in Florida, and the National Flood Insurance Program has paid out $982.5 million to 28,751 policyholders.
Overall, FEMA’s financial support for Hurricane Irma recovery efforts in Florida has totaled more than $5.58 billion as of July 2022, with additional assistance provided through other federal agencies and programs.