Subject:
Title
Renewal of the County’s participation in the State of Florida Division of Emergency Management’s Florida Recovery Obligation Calculation Program designed to accelerate the efficient delivery of disaster relief funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the aftermath of a Presidential Disaster Declaration.
label
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of the 2025-2026 Participation Request to the State of Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM). Participation in the FDEM Obligation Calculation Program is necessary to accelerate the timeline for reimbursement through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for public safety costs related to future federally declared disasters.
• Execution of this agreement signals the County’s intent to comply, partially or fully, with a set of best practices regarding expenditure documentation, policy recording, and general cost recovery activity to bypass additional review by the FDEM as a pass-through entity when receiving federal public assistance funds from the FEMA.
• Participation in this program was initially approved by the County Administrator on August 24th, 2023 under Granicus File #23-0714D.
• The amount of funds and expenditures able to bypass additional FDEM review is based on a percentage, from 20% to 80%. The exact percentage is based on the County’s pre-disaster provision of policy documents (normally provided post-disaster), use of standardized FDEM forms, and compliance with potential abatement recommendations which the FDEM may pass on to the County upon review of our policy documentation.
• Simply signing up for the program will allow a minimum of 20% of expenditures and funds to bypass additional review even if the County elects or is unable to comply with abatement recommendations.
• This agreement is valid for a period of one year.
• Per the attached agreement, the County can opt-out of this program at any time by submitting a request in writing to the FDEM.
• Administration of this program will be delegated to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Office of Management and Budget personnel will complete the Disaster Readiness Assessment, take the required trainings, and provide appropriate documentation to the FDEM.
• There is no fiscal impact dollar amount associated with this agreement. The program decreases the length of time between a potential disaster and the receipt of federal Public Assistance funds by the County. .
Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety, and Welfare
2.2 Provide planning, coordination, prevention, and protective services to ensure a safe and secure community.
Deliver First Class Services to the Public and our Customers
5.2 Be responsible stewards of the public’s resources.
Summary:
Summary
Execution of the attached 2025-2026 Florida Recovery Obligation Calculation Participation Request Form with the FDEM is necessary to accelerate the timeline for the receipt of federal public assistance funds from the FEMA by allowing a percentage of funds to bypass additional review by the FDEM.
Body
Background Information:
The FDEM has launched the Florida Recovery Obligation Calculation Program after years of research in order to increase compliance with best practices among FEMA Public Assistance applicants within the State of Florida and to standardize documentation forms that are submitted to the FEMA and the FDEM to account for expenditures related to disaster response and recovery operations.
Fiscal Impact:
There is no fiscal impact dollar amount associated with this agreement. The program decreases the length of time between a potential disaster and the receipt of federal Public Assistance funds by the County. Signing up for the program will allow a minimum of 20% of expenditures and funds to bypass additional review for expedited reimbursement.
Delegated Authority:
The County Administrator has the authority to sign this item under Pinellas County Code Section 2-62(a)(1).
Staff Member Responsible:
Daniel Schoel, Disaster Cost Recovery Coordinator, Office of Management & Budget
Partners:
State of Florida, Division of Emergency Management
Federal Emergency Management Administration
Attachments:
2025-2026 Florida Recovery Obligation Calculation Participation Request Form
Florida Recovery Obligation Calculation Overview
2025-2026 Florida Recovery Obligation Calculation Application OMB Granicus Review