FEMA says it has provided nearly $24 million to the state for more than 50 Elevate Florida home elevation projects, marking progress on a long-delayed program meant to help homeowners raise flood-prone homes above future floodwaters as another hurricane season gets underway.
The Elevate Florida program is operated by the Florida Division of Emergency Management, which communicates directly with homeowners about eligibility and project status. FEMA says it continues reviewing additional applications.
Among homeowners still waiting are Ron and Marina Dick of Madeira Beach, whose home flooded during Hurricane Helene and previous storms. Though they have been able to move back in, the Dicks say they have not finished rebuilding because they are waiting to learn whether their home will be elevated through the program.
“It feels kind of hopeless, but you try not to feel hopeless,” Marina Dick said. “Just give us an answer. Even if it’s a ‘no,’ just give us an answer so we can try to regroup and figure something else out.”
Earlier this week, FEMA announced nearly $55 million in disaster mitigation funding across Florida, which included funding to elevate six Tampa homes. FEMA confirmed those six homes are part of the Elevate Florida program.
Ron Dick said the ongoing uncertainty has become its own burden. “Here we are in our second year and second hurricane season,” he said. “So we’re sitting here going, ‘Gosh, what are we preparing ourselves for?’”
In June, Florida Division of Emergency Management Executive Director Kevin Guthrie said approvals were beginning to come in after months of delays, describing the process at the time as “a slow drip.” Guthrie said roughly 20 homeowner projects had been approved as of that update, while about 1,300 remained backlogged with FEMA. He said he expects between 1,000 and 1,300 homeowners total to receive assistance through the program.
The outlet reported it reached out to the Florida Division of Emergency Management for updated information on how many approved projects have moved into construction but had not received a response as of publication.
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