Town to pay approximately $2.2 million less for recovery projects due to change in FEMA cost – share

Town of Fort Myers Beach, FL – President Biden announced on October 25 that he has made additional funding assistance available to the State of Florida to supplement recovery efforts in areas affected by Hurricane Ian, which will save the Town approximately $2.2 million.

The President increased the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reimbursement for recovery projects related to Hurricane Ian to a 90 percent cost-share from a 75 percent cost-share. For the Town, the State of Florida will pick up five percent of the remaining 10 percent cost-share. The Town is responsible for the remaining five percent.

This cost savings is combined from the Town’s 39 recovery projects that are in various stages of project formulation or reimbursement through FEMA’s Public Assistance program. This process requires precise documentation and several steps specific to each project before funding is approved and received.

Projects that are completed and awaiting reimbursement include debris removal, emergency berm construction, and Laguna Pass dredging. Projects that are pending in various stages include beach access repairs, street signs, Bay Oaks Recreational Center, and the community pool.

The Town’s cost-share at the former 75 percent rate was approximately $4.7 million. The Town’s five percent cost-share at the 90 percent reimbursement rate is approximately $2.5 million.