Homeowners facing storm damage are left with a tough choice: elevate their homes or tear them down.

Many residents affected by recent hurricanes are struggling to comply with federal rebuilding requirements, and the decision isn’t getting any easier.

This week, the Florida Department of Emergency Management is holding meetings to discuss the new Elevate Florida program, which could provide homeowners with up to 75% of the cost to elevate their homes—if funding is approved.

However, critics worry that the state’s $400 million allocation won’t be enough to meet the demand.

“It’s confusing,” Derek Brunney, a Pinellas County homeowner, told WFLA. “You don’t get the answers. They don’t have the answers. They can’t even say if it’s funded, how much is funded, or how many homes they’ll be able to help.”

Many attendees left the meeting frustrated.

“It was information I already found on the website through the application process,” one homeowner said.

Program representatives declined to answer questions from WFLA.

“I expected a Q&A session—not just a reading of documents I’d already seen,” another homeowner added.

Upcoming Elevate Florida Meetings

The Florida Department of Emergency Management is hosting additional meetings this week:

• Today, March 13: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. at the St. Petersburg Sunshine Center, 330 5th Street North, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
• Friday, March 14: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. at the Clearwater Ross Norton Recreation Center Multipurpose Room, 1426 S MLK Jr. Avenue, Clearwater, FL 33756 (Full presentations at noon and 5 p.m.)

The Cost of Compliance

Homeowners recovering from Hurricanes Helene and Milton have already faced major challenges—from flooding to cleanup. Now, federal regulations could cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The FEMA 50% rule is catching many off guard. This complex regulation prevents homeowners in flood zones from making simple repairs if their home has sustained substantial damage. Instead, they may be required to demolish and rebuild at a higher elevation.

What Is Elevate Florida?

Elevate Florida is the state’s first home elevation mitigation program, designed to help homeowners afford these costly requirements. With another hurricane season approaching, many are weighing their options.

According to the Florida Division of Emergency Management, the program aims to strengthen community resilience by reducing risks to private residences. If a structure is deemed unsuitable for elevation, mitigation reconstruction may be an alternative.

Eligible Projects

The Elevate Florida program provides assistance for:

• Structure elevation
• Mitigation reconstruction
• Acquisition/demolition
• Wind mitigation

For more information or to apply for assistance, go here: https://fdem-resmit.my.site.com/Elevate

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