Subject:
Title
Grant funding agreement with the State of Florida Division of Emergency Management regarding a Federal Emergency Management Agency public assistance grant for disaster relief funding associated with Hurricane Helene.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of the federally funded sub-award and grant agreement with the State of Florida, Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) for reimbursement through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for public safety costs related to the response to and damage from Hurricane Helene.
• Execution of this grant funding agreement with the FDEM is necessary for the State to fund eligible disaster relief costs.
• As of November 1st, 2024, the County has expended an estimated $1,780,665.00 in overtime payroll costs, $14,462,250.00 in supplies, contracts, and equipment, $2,201,134.00 for debris clearance activity (Helene only) and $7,545,600.00 for Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office expenses, totaling $25,989,649.00. These expenditures originated from the contingency reserves, and all reimbursements will be returned to the same reserves. Current analysis indicates that approximately 95.5% of these expenditures are eligible for reimbursement from FEMA at a 100% federal cost-share.
• In addition to funds already expended, current damage assessments indicate approximately $19,915,600.00 in damages to County-owned facilities and equipment. The repair and replacement costs for these items are eligible for FEMA reimbursement at an 87.5% federal and state cost-share, with the County being responsible for the remaining 12.5%.
• The County will continue to utilize FEMA funding for reimbursement of emergency response.
• Most of the funds related to this agreement were expended in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, but a portion were and will be expended in FY25.
Authorize the Chairman to sign the agreement.
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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 Grant Funding Agreement with the State of Florida, Division of Emergency Management is necessary to receive reimbursement for disaster-related costs associated with Hurricane Helene.
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Background Information:
In September 2024, Hurricane Helene passed by Pinellas County in the Gulf of Mexico on a northern trajectory. The location and strength of the storm led to bands of tropical-storm force winds throughout the County as well as significant storm-surge inundation of up to eight feet in certain costal parts of the County and the Barrier Islands. As a result, Pinellas County submitted a Request for Public Assistance to the State of Florida and FEMA for reimbursement of disaster-related costs.
FEMA’s Public Assistance program is a federal grant to aid state and local governments in returning a disaster area to pre‐disaster conditions. For this disaster FEMA is reimbursing 100% of eligible emergency protective measure and debris activity. Permanent repair work is being reimbursed at a 75% federal cost share, with an additional 12.5% being provided by the State of Florida.
Hurricane Helene was declared a State emergency by the Governor of Florida on September 23rd, 2024, and a federal disaster by the President of the United States on September 29th, 2024.
Fiscal Impact:
An estimated $44,724,249.00 has been identified as expenditures with the State and FEMA. The actual dollar amount will be determined upon review and approval of eligible storm costs by FEMA. The County can anticipate reimbursement of 100% for eligible emergency protective measures and debris costs expended by the County during this disaster, with 87.5% reimbursement of permanent repair work.
All County reserve funds were impacted by expenditures related to this disaster. The Pinellas County Office of Management and Budget estimates that over 92% of the identified expenditures and repairs will come out of the general fund contingency reserves, with the other fund contingency reserves covering the remaining 8%.
Staff Member Responsible:
Daniel Schoel, Disaster Cost Recovery Coordinator, Office of Management & Budget
Partners:
State of Florida, Division of Emergency Management
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Attachments:
SR-DR4828-FL-Pinellas County-Funding Agreement
OMB Granicus Review 24-2033A Hurricane Helene Subgrant Agreement
DR-4828 Federal Disaster Declaration