Commission Chairman Lumon May has signed two letters to be sent to Florida Governor Rick Scott asking for additional financial relief related to two disasters experienced by Escambia County nearly a decade apart.
In the first letter, Commissioner May is requesting that the State of Florida’s Division of Emergency Management prioritize and complete a reconciliation of all projects related to Hurricane Ivan, which struck the County in September 2004 causing approximately $226 million in damages. Ten years later, the State of Florida still holds more than $4 million in monies owed to Escambia County. By closing out all projects related to Hurricane Ivan and releasing the funds, the County would benefit from a multi-million dollar cash flow into its general fund.
In a second letter to the Governor’s Office, Commissioner May has requested that the State of Florida cover the local match required under the Federal Emergency Management’s (FEMA) declaration of Public Assistance related to the April 29 flood event.
A FEMA Public Assistance declaration provides aid to state or local governments to pay part of the costs of rebuilding a community's damaged infrastructure. Generally, under public assistance programs the Federal government pays for 75 percent of the approved project costs, while the state and local governments each pay 12.5 percent. If the Governor honors Commissioner May’s request, the County would be released from its 12.5 percent obligation.
