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 Eta.
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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 Hurricane Eta.
• Execution of this grant funding agreement with the FDEM is necessary to receive funding for eligible disaster relief costs.
• The County has expended $19,993.35 in reimbursable costs for the Hurricane Eta emergency response, all of which occurred in Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 in November 2020.
• The County will leverage FEMA for reimbursement of emergency response activities.
• No other Board actions have taken place related to this item.
• This grant funding agreement will have a positive fiscal impact on Pinellas County when the funds are reimbursed in FY24. The $19,993.35 in reimbursable costs have not been budgeted and are spread across the General Fund, the Building Services Fund, the Water Revenue & Operating Fund, the Sewer Revenue and Operating Fund, and the Solid Waste Revenue and Operating Fund.
Authorize the Chairman to sign.
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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 Eta.
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Background Information:
In November 2020, Hurricane Eta made landfall in Northwest Florida. While Pinellas County was not directly hit by this storm, the County incurred costs preparing for an erratic storm making landfall in the Tampa Bay Area as well as damage from high winds and heavy rainfall. As a result, Pinellas County submitted a Request for Public Assistance to FDEM and FEMA for reimbursement of disaster-related costs, particularly those involving the emergency response surrounding the incident.
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 emergency protective measures and debris cleanup at a 90% federal cost share, with the State of Florida providing an additional 5% reimbursement.
Hurricane Eta was declared a State emergency by the Governor of Florida on November 7th, 2020 and a federal emergency by the President of the United States on November 11th, 2020. As this storm was declared a federal emergency but not a federal disaster for Florida, only emergency response measures are eligible for reimbursement via FEMA’s Public Assistance Program.
Fiscal Impact:
An estimated $19,993.35 has been identified as potentially eligible emergency response expenses with FDEM 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 95% of the above-referenced amount.
Impacted funds are: General ($7,795.24), Building Services ($155.28), Water Revenue & Operating ($2,608.06), Sewer Revenue & Operating ($9,073.70), and Solid Waste Revenue & Operating ($361.07).
It is important to note that the agreement document indicates a lower amount of identified expenditures that the amount is subject to change.
Staff Member Responsible:
Chris Rose, Director, Office of Management and Budget
Daniel Schoel, Disaster Cost Recovery Coordinator, Office of Management and Budget
Partners:
State of Florida, Division of Emergency Management
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Attachments:
Hurricane Eta Subgrant Grancus Review
EM-3551 Subgrant Agreement Z2720
EM-3551 Federal Declaration
EM-3551 Hurricane Eta Request for Public Assistance RPAC9B7C2
Z2720 Risk Assessment Questionnaire