The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved nearly $55 million to support resilience and recovery projects across Florida, including funding earmarked for the Tampa Bay region.
The award is part of a broader $584 million nationwide investment FEMA announced this month through its Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, its Public Assistance program, and its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The money is intended to help state and local governments rebuild infrastructure damaged in past storms and reduce the impact of future disasters.
FEMA’s Public Assistance program, which reimburses state and local governments for disaster-related recovery expenses and emergency protective measures, accounts for a significant share of the Florida funding. The program covers costs tied to recent hurricanes, including Ian, Nicole, Helene and Milton.
In the Tampa Bay area, Hillsborough County is set to receive $8 million to support affordable housing, aging services, children’s services and other emergency protective measures stemming from Hurricane Ian.
Other Florida communities named in the funding round include Collier County, which will receive $11.2 million for beach renourishment and erosion prevention following Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and the Town of Palm Beach, which will receive $3.7 million for beach renourishment tied to Hurricane Nicole.
FEMA said the funding reflects its ongoing effort to help communities recover from hurricanes, tornadoes, severe storms and wildfires while strengthening their ability to withstand future disasters. The agency coordinates directly with the Florida Division of Emergency Management, which manages the Public Assistance program at the state level and reviews projects before final federal approval.
Florida has received billions of dollars in FEMA disaster recovery funding since the start of 2025 as the state continues to work through recovery from multiple federally declared disasters, including the back-to-back hurricanes of 2024.
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