The federal spigot is opening a bit wider for the storm weary South, with FEMA signing off on more than $60 million in disaster recovery funding for communities across the Southeast. The money is aimed at rebuilding public infrastructure and cutting future flood and storm risk, through a mix of Public Assistance reimbursements and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program dollars that cover everything from debris removal and drainage upgrades to building code enforcement and property buyouts. Officials say the goal is to speed repairs before the summer storm season kicks into high gear and help communities still digging out from recent winter storms and hurricanes.
According to WZTV, almost $9 million of the package is specifically earmarked for mitigation projects in three Southeastern states, including Tennessee. The outlet reports that Hazard Mitigation Grant Program money will go toward measures such as elevating homes, enforcing updated building codes and improving drainage systems to blunt future flooding. Those mitigation awards are separate from the public assistance funds that reimburse local governments for emergency response and cleanup.
Local awards are already rolling out. Mississippi Today reports that the city of New Albany will receive more than $948,000 to pick up debris left by Winter Storm Fern, one of dozens of Public Assistance projects approved across Mississippi. State emergency officials told the outlet the money will help cover costs that local governments could not absorb after January's storm, which knocked out power across wide areas and brought down trees. The New Albany reimbursement is part of the broader $60 million plus approvals affecting Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
Part Of A Larger Funding Push
Federal officials say this $60 million slice is just one piece of a larger recovery push by FEMA this month. WTVM reported that FEMA has approved more than $1.2 billion to support recovery in seven Southeastern states, including roughly $1.1 billion to reimburse COVID-19 related costs and $126.5 million for repairs tied to past disasters. A FEMA bulletin also highlights May obligations totaling in the hundreds of millions of dollars, including an additional $237 million and a separate $5.4 billion package intended to close out lingering COVID-19 recovery claims.
Mitigation Examples And Buyouts
Much of the mitigation money is aimed at getting people and property out of harm's way before the next storm hits. Homeland Security Today notes that FEMA recently approved roughly $59 million for buyouts of more than 150 flood damaged properties in North Carolina, a model officials say cuts repeat losses and long term risk. Those types of buyouts, along with investments in drainage and stricter code enforcement, are the kinds of projects the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is built to prioritize.
What To Expect Next
FEMA officials and state emergency managers say projects will be reviewed and obligated on a rolling basis as paperwork is filed and eligibility is confirmed, which means local governments should expect reimbursements and project starts to arrive in phases over the coming months. WTVM reports that FEMA will continue working with states to nail down scopes of work and verify that projects meet program rules before money is released. Municipalities with questions about specific awards are being directed to their state emergency management offices or FEMA's Region 4 office, which oversees the affected states.
As these funding obligations move from paper to pavement, communities hit by recent storms will be watching for debris crews, infrastructure repairs and mitigation projects to ramp up this summer. For residents still trying to get back to normal, the grants represent federal dollars aimed at making neighborhoods safer before the next big system blows through.
