FEMA Denies DeSantis’ Emergency Funds Request, Governor Says Florida Will Foot the Bill: ‘We Wanna Cut Through Bureaucracy’
PUNTA GORDA (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis announced in Southwest Florida, the region of landfall for Hurricane Ian, that Florida will pay $25 million of its own money for emergency relief in light of FEMA denying the state’s request.
“Unfortunately, we got word last week that FEMA had denied our request for funding our state-led housing initiatives, citing their quote ‘limited authority.’ But we’re not just gonna sit there and take no for an answer,” he said. “We wanna cut through bureaucracy. We wanna bring relief to impacted Floridians regardless of whether FEMA wants to be a part of that.”
FEMA sent a Dec. 2 letter to the DeSantis Administration issuing denial for a request to expand the state’s housing recovery program:
Due to the limited authorities FEMA has to approve and pay for this type of work, as well as our inability to confirm that authorizing this policy expansion would achieve the intended outcomes for disaster survivors, your request is denied.
Thomas J. McCool, Federal Coordinating Officer and Disaster Recovery Manager of FEMA to FDEM Director Kevin Guthrie
DeSantis said Florida will be giving up $25 million in state funds for building materials to restore damaged homes, giving those to registered non-profits organizing repairs.
The governor noted initiatives like the Unite Florida Portal for state housing and reporting other assistance needs.
The repairs will provide houses livable conditions while permanent repairs are made. DeSantis emphasized the importance of getting impacted Floridians from the borderline Category 5 storm back in their homes.
He said $35.2 million is also being designated to support the state’s home repair program and support fulfillment of unmet needs via the Florida Disaster Fund, which has raised over $57 million.
Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis established the Fund before Ian made landfall in Southwest Florida.
The First Lady said 17 different non-profits, which have been vetted, will be receiving emergency funds to help Floridians continue recovery efforts.
“It’s not a government go-at it alone. It’s really everybody uniting for the benefit of everybody here who were affected by the hurricane,” she said. “We’re not stopping, I know there’s a lot more money that can be raised.”
Kevin Guthrie, director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, said in his 30+ years of experience, the response to Ian has been the fastest response ever taken on by Florida.
