The state of Florida has started planning to seek post-storm federal assistance for rural counties expected to sustain damage in Hurricane Idalia.
Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie said Tuesday that officials have begun paperwork to request help with debris removal and cleanup efforts, similar to how recovery efforts were handled after Hurricane Michael in 2018 and Hurricane Ian last year.
The federal government will cover 75 percent of the cost, against a 25 percent local match, for certain debris cleanup within set periods of time after storms. Guthrie said he anticipates the state will request the federal portion to increase to 100 percent for a set number of days following landfall. But first, the state will need to see the damage.
In the news: Idalia Strengthens To Hurricane As It Eyes Florida’s Gulf Coast
“We’ll try to see exactly what the type of damage is going to be,” Guthrie said. “It doesn’t make sense for us to update and say we want 100 days, because we don’t know how much it’s going to be.” After Hurricane Michael, areas of the Panhandle were initially approved for 100 percent reimbursement for the five busiest debris-collection days.
After Gov. Ron DeSantis met with then-President Donald Trump, the full reimbursement period was extended to 45 days. Idalia is expected to make landfall Wednesday on the state’s west coast or in the Big Bend region of North Florida.
“I think we know that there’s going to be a lot of debris. I think we know there’s going to be a lot of trees and limbs and all that that’s going to be there,” DeSantis said. “And that’s going to be a really important part of the post-storm recovery.”
President Joe Biden on Monday approved an emergency declaration and ordered federal assistance in responding to the storm.
DeSantis submitted a request for aid Sunday night to the White House.
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