VIDEO RELEASE: Senator Moody Touts $1.5 Billion in Secured FEMA Reimbursements for Florida and Passage of Her TRACK Act as Hurricane Season Looms

BARTOW, Fla.-Senator Ashley Moody is touting the more than $1.5 billion secured for Florida in FEMA public assistance funding. Senator Moody worked to secure these funds to reimburse more than 500 projects around the state from hurricanes and other disasters dating back several years. Today in Bartow, Senator Moody also discussed efforts to improve transparency in disaster recovery through her TRACK Act and urged Floridians to be ready ahead of hurricane season.

"As hurricane season approaches, our work to help Floridians recover from storms or other natural disasters continues. I'm proud to have secured more than $1.5 billion in long-overdue FEMA funding to support communities across our state, while also advancing solutions like the TRACK Act to bring greater transparency to the recovery process," said Senator Ashley Moody.

BACKGROUND:

• Senator Moody worked with Department of Homeland Security to secure the commitment of funds for Florida disaster projects that had gone un-reimbursed.
• Senator Moody pressed DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin directly about the unfunded projects in Florida to secure the commitment. The grand total reimbursed by FEMA currently stands at $1,563,897,520. These projects include repairs to educational facilities, restoration of critical infrastructure, debris removal, and costs incurred during emergencies to protect life and property.
• The city of Bartow received more than $5.3 million for power and electrical system repair projects.
• Senator Moody introduced the TRACK Act (Transparency in Recovery Assistance & Claims Knowledge Act) to bring more transparency to the FEMA disaster aid process and has now passed into law. The TRACK Bill mandates a status tracker on the FEMA website, so victims of a disaster have easily available knowledge and insight of their claim's progress.
• Senator Moody is also urging Floridians ahead of the start of this year's hurricane season to be ready to weather any storm:
  • Build an emergency supply kit, with enough bottled water, nonperishable food, medications, and pet supplies to last at least seven days;
  • Stay informed about potential storm threats by listening to local officials;
  • Create a family safety plan that outlines what you will do and where you will go in the event of a hurricane strike; and
  • Reduce home hazards by placing large, heavy objects on lower shelves and removing objects from your yard that could become projectiles.
• To view Senator Moody's full remarks at today's event, click here.

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