FACT SHEET: One Year After Hurricane Michael

By the numbers (as of Sept. 30, 2019)

• Nearly $1.9 billion in federal funds have been obligated on response and recovery efforts since Hurricane Michael made landfall in the Florida Panhandle Oct. 10, 2018.
  • Nearly $319.7 million approved in FEMA Individual Assistance for housing assistance and other disaster-related needs.
  • More than $644.7 million in SBA low-interest disaster loans approved for homeowners, renters and businesses.
  • An estimated $224.1 million in claims paid to National Flood Insurance Program policyholders.
  • Nearly $496.6 million in FEMA Public Assistance grants approved for disaster-related reimbursements to local, state and private nonprofits.
  • $192.9 million paid by FEMA to other federal agencies for response and recovery mission support. Examples of this support include clearing roads for first responders, emergency power, Blue Roofs, emergency food supplies, medical equipment, hazardous material assessments and more.
  • Nearly $2.7 million in Hazard Mitigation grants to help communities eliminate or reduce future disaster-related damage.
• More than 25 federal and 29 state agencies tackled the massive job of responding to one of the country’s most powerful storms. In addition to state and federal agencies, the effort has involved local governments, community leaders and voluntary, faith-based and private sector partners all working together. 

Individual Assistance

• Nearly $319.7 million approved in FEMA Individual Assistance:
  • Nearly $121.3 million approved for housing repair costs, home replacement and rental payments.
  • Nearly $19.7 million approved to replace essential household items and for other critical disaster-related costs.
  • More than $70.2 million provided to FEMA’s direct housing program for purchasing housing units, renting housing pads and unit maintenance.
  • Nearly $51.8 million approved for immediate disaster services including food, water and emergency sheltering.
  • More than $56.7 million obligated for Crisis Counseling, Disaster Case Management, Disaster Legal Services and Disaster Unemployment Assistance.
• 21,218 homeowners and renters were approved for financial rental assistance.
• From October 2018 to April 2019, 2,058 displaced households received hotel lodging through FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance program, totaling $16.7 million in assistance.
• 925 households have participating in FEMA’s direct housing program, which provides travel trailers or manufactured housing units on private property, in mobile home parks or at FEMA group sites. At present, 284 households have successfully moved on to more permanent housing by completing basic home repairs or finding a rental property.

U.S. Small Business Administration

• 12,730 disaster loans approved for more than $644.7 million, including:
  • More than $522 million to homeowners and renters.
  • More than $122.7 million to businesses. 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

• Under a mission assignment from FEMA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) installed 7,800 blue roofs, enabling families to live in their homes while making permanent repairs.

 
Public Assistance

• Nearly $496.6 million in Public Assistance grants approved by FEMA to reimburse local, state and private nonprofits for Hurricane Michael-related damage, including:
  • $283.2 million for debris removal.
  • $181 million for emergency protective measures.
  • $32.4 million for permanent repair work.
     

• Key messages

• Federal assistance to families, local governments and communities currently totals more than $1.9 billion.
• 32.9 million cubic yards of debris has been removed, according to designated county reports from USACE.
• Seven long-term recovery groups have been formed across the Panhandle to address unmet needs of survivors in their communities.
• FEMA’s Interagency Recovery Coordination Group works with the State of Florida and the designated counties and their communities to help identify and coordinate financial and other resources to meet needs beyond what FEMA, the state and other programs can cover.
• As the costs of disasters continue to rise, governments and residents must find ways to reduce hazard risks to our communities. Under the presidential declaration for Hurricane Michael, all areas within the State of Florida are eligible for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). HMGP funding helps communities eliminate or reduce future disaster-related damage. In general, individuals may not apply directly to FEMA for HMGP funding, but may be sponsored through a local government, tribe or private nonprofit. All applications from local governments or others are submitted to the state, which receives and distributes HMGP funds from FEMA.

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