FEMA Approves More Than $1.2 Billion to Support Recovery in Seven Southeastern States

ATLANTA - FEMA recently approved more than $1.2 billion in funding to support recovery in Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

This includes $1.1 billion to reimburse for costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and $126.5 million for recovery work related to past natural disasters. This funding is part of FEMA's announcement of $5.6 billion in federal assistance to states, tribal nations and territories for COVID-19 and disaster recovery.

FEMA conducts a review process for all recovery grants that includes verifying compliance with program eligibility rules, ensuring proper documentation of expenses and confirming that claimed activities are consistent with program eligibility criteria to ensure taxpayer dollars are used appropriately.

In alignment with President Trump's executive order establishing the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, FEMA conducted thorough reviews of claimed costs to identify duplication of benefits, specifically with patient care revenue. These actions help ensure that the COVID-19 Public Assistance funds being obligated are consistent with the executive order's focus on preventing fraud, waste and abuse. Based on these reviews, FEMA is confident that the costs being reimbursed are eligible and not fraudulent.

Some FEMA Public Assistance grants recently approved to the states and communities include:

• $213 million to Miami-Dade County for materials, rented equipment and contracts to reduce or eliminate the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
• $109 million to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency for materials, rented equipment and contracts to reduce or eliminate the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
• $45.1 million to the South Carolina Department of Transportation for the removal of more than 5 million cubic yards of debris from roads and public property following Hurricane Helene.
• $41.8 million to the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management for materials, rented equipment and contracts to reduce or eliminate the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
• $18.5 million to the North Carolina Department of Transportation to repair state routes damaged by Hurricane Helene in Buncombe, McDowell, Mitchell, Transylvania and Yancey counties.
• $2.9 million to Sharkey-Issaquena Community Hospital in Rolling Fork, Mississippi for emergency protective measures taken following the March 2023 severe storms and tornadoes.

FEMA will continue to review additional projects and obligate funds on a rolling basis as eligibility is confirmed and scopes of work are finalized.