Florida Rep. Gus Bilirakis led an effort urging President Biden to allow FEMA to provide more flexibility to Florida communities hardest hit by recent hurricanes, expediting debris removal for local governments. Bilirakis highlighted the urgent need for cleanup.
“As you drive through our community, you can’t miss the piles of debris and trash that have been rotting along roadways and in driveways for weeks,” said Bilirakis. “Local governments have done their best to remove the debris as quickly as they are able under current guidelines, but we need to remove those restrictions so that we can get these obstructive hazards cleaned up. I will keep pushing federal agencies to be as flexible as possible so that we can focus on rebuilding and supporting those who are suffering.”
READ: Florida’s September Revenue Exceeds Expectations Despite Hurricane Helene
In response, FEMA has issued technical guidance and waived specific debris removal rules for the 31 most affected counties, including Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus. These waivers are designed to speed up the cleanup process, with key adjustments including:
- One-Pass Removal: Local governments can remove commercial debris on public Right of Way (ROW) without prior FEMA approval.
- Private Road Access: Debris removal on private roads is now allowed to ensure emergency access.
- Commercial and Private Property Debris: Debris placed on ROW in gated communities and private roads is eligible for removal.
- Reimbursement Flexibility: Increased reimbursement for hand-loaded vegetative debris.
READ: FEMA Offers Assistance To Florida Self-Employed Affected By Hurricanes
In a further boost to local budgets, FEMA will cover 100% of eligible debris removal costs for 90 days in the hardest-hit counties impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, a significant increase from the usual 75% federal coverage, with the remaining 25% typically covered by state or local governments.
This additional support aims to ease the financial burden on communities working to rebuild swiftly.
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