Subject:
Title
Memorandum of Understand between the Florida Division of Emergency Management and Pinellas County Regarding Section 1206 Substantial Damage Assessment Resources.
label
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of the Memorandum of Understanding to allow the deployment of substantial damage assessors to Pinellas County in order to conduct Substantial Damage Assessments within Pinellas County.
• The County Administrator signed the agreement as of October 17th, 2024. The fully executed agreement will be uploaded when received from the State of Florida. This item is being routed through Granicus to notify all parties. Agreement was already approved as to form by the County Attorney’s Office. This item applies to Hurricane Milton, whereas Granicus Item #24-1016D applies to Hurricane Helene.
• Assessments would occur both in unincorporated county areas as well as municipal jurisdictions with whom the County has previously entered into Interlocal agreements for the provision of services.
• Assessors would be supervised and directed by Building and Development Review Services and Floodplain Management staff in order to engage in an efficient assessment of the County.
• Currently, there is no cost estimate for the work entailed. The State of Florida has represented to the County via email that they would bear financial responsibility for resources deployed via State missions in the WebEOC system. This is a deployment based on State Mission #00971.
Body
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 Memorandum of Understanding is necessary for the County to leverage enough resources to conduct Substantial Damage Assessments in a timely manner.
Body
Background Information:
In September and October of 2024, Pinellas County was impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton within a period of less than two weeks. Significant flooding occurred in coastal areas of the County as well as inland areas, rendering potentially 16,000 or more residences as Substantially Damaged. In order to provide residents with letters signifying this Substantial Damage, which opens up potential funding for repairs and mitigation efforts for these residences, the County has a regulatory responsibility to perform Substantial Damage Assessments.
In order to conduct these assessments in a reasonable timeframe, these significant additional resources are necessary.
Fiscal Impact:
As the State has indicated they will take financial responsibility for this mission, there is no currently known fiscal impact to the County.
Staff Member Responsible:
Daniel Schoel, Disaster Cost Recovery Coordinator, Office of Management & Budget
Lisa Foster, Floodplain Manager, Public Works Department
Partners:
State of Florida, Division of Emergency Management
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Attachments:
1. Email from Melissa Shirah, Recovery Bureau Chief, Florida Division of Emergency Management.
2. State Mission #00971.
3. Memorandum of Understanding Between Florida Division of Emergency Management and Pinellas County