At the June 11th Leon County Commission meeting, county staff provided a final report on the Targeted Emergency Assistance Microgrant (TEAM) Leon Program established by the Board to provide immediate assistance to individuals and businesses impacted by the May 10, 2024 tornadoes event as a bridge to eventual federal aid.
County staff also provided more information on funding related to other expenses incurred due to the storm event.
TEAM Program
The Team program was launched on Thursday, May 23, 2024, via an online application (LeonCountyFl.gov/TEAM) and the activation of three application assistance centers to support residents and businesses with their applications.
The program was implemented by a team of more than 50 County employees was assembled representing 20 County departments and divisions with specializations in emergency management, customer service, risk management, finance, grant management and compliance, building inspection, housing and human services, to quickly and successfully implement the Team Leon Program.
The $1 million approved by the Board was fully awarded to 419 individual households and 53 businesses to provide a financial bridge to those most impacted by the storms. Individual households received $740,500 and business applicants were allocated $258,500.
Future Strom Related Expense
Preliminary expenses of $6.4 million have been identified thus far related to the response and recovery from the May 10th tornadoes. Listed below is information on the estimated expenditures:
- $6.1 million – May 10th Tornadoes Emergency Protective Measures (overtime and equipment costs for road clearing, EOC activation, etc.) and debris removal. The $6.1 million preliminary estimate represents the anticipated upfront costs to the County prior to any Federal or State reimbursements. If a Federal Declaration is approved, a minimum of 87.5%, or $5.3 million, of these costs would be eligible for reimbursement from FEMA and the State, resulting in a $800,000 net fiscal impact to the County.
- $300,000 – Insurance Deductible for County damaged structures. As previously reported to the Board, major damage occurred to the historic Amtrak and Office of Intervention and Detention Alternatives buildings. Claims have been filed with the insurance carrier for all damages. FEMA does not provide funding that duplicates insurance proceeds but can reimburse the County for most of its insurance deductible.
County staff noted that pending any potential reimbursement from FEMA, the County will be responsible for all upfront costs related to the response and recovery from the tornadoes.
Should FEMA approve a federal declaration, reimbursements may take up to 12 months so it will be necessary for the County to increase the emergency fund reserves to cover these upfront costs.
Revised estimates related to debris removal and insurance deductibles will be provided to the Board at the July 9th meeting along with a budget amendment to appropriate additional funding for response and recovery expenses.
Leon County Commission Provides Final Report on TEAM Leon Efforts added by Staff on
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Why no report on how many applications (and in which service areas) compared to how many funded? And if it was just first come first served, whether there was any difference in percentages in the different areas and what accounts for those differences. All of that is needed to inform any future such efforts.
WTH is taking FEMA so long? Here is a thought……… Put a 5 Year Moratorium on any FSU Funding and put that Money into the emergency fund reserves.
“County staff noted that pending any POTENTIAL reimbursement from FEMA, the County will be responsible for ALL upfront costs related to the response and recovery from the tornadoes.”
The key word here is POTENTIAL. In this use, it means possible or probable which indicates it may or may not happen. Not something you want to base a multi-million dollar decision on. However, when it involves other people’s money (us tax payers) that’s quite easy to do.
” Should FEMA approve a federal declaration, reimbursements may take up to 12 months so it will be necessary for the County to increase the emergency fund reserves to cover these upfront costs.”
Where will the money come from that the county will need to increase the emergency fund? Oh, we never thought of that. Maybe the tax payers can help us out.
Reminder: The storm on May 10th was only the FIRST of a very possible long 2024 storm season.