Monroe County and two different counties earned the very best scores out of 441 contributors for catastrophe preparedness by the state’s Emergency Administration program.
The county’s excessive ranking ensures that within the occasion of a declared catastrophe and FEMA Public Help approval, Monroe County will obtain an advance cost of 60% of its obligated venture funding, dashing up restoration efforts and decreasing the monetary pressure on the county whereas it awaits FEMA reimbursement. In recent times, there have been no advance funds, and funding has been supplied on a reimbursement foundation as soon as the venture is obligated.
This system is designed to assist state, tribal and native governments, in addition to sure personal non-profit organizations, streamline the general public help course of, establish dangers and implement plans to mitigate these dangers earlier than disasters strike. Annually, taking part jurisdictions full a Catastrophe Readiness Evaluation (DRA), which evaluates key emergency capabilities for particles removing (Class A) and emergency protecting measures (Class B).
In 2023, Monroe County volunteered to take part within the pilot program and supplied enter to assist enhance the method. This participation additionally contributed to the county’s finance and price range staff’s capacity to realize a greater understanding of the method and obtain enchancment suggestions.
“This can be a big win for Monroe County, which suggests we will reply and get well extra rapidly when catastrophe strikes,” stated assistant county administrator Tina Boan. “Our employees’s dedication to bettering our emergency processes is paying off for our whole group.”
Monroe County continues to prioritize catastrophe readiness by way of sturdy partnerships with the Florida Division of Emergency Administration and proactive planning by leveraging packages just like the one wherein it rated so extremely to guard its residents, infrastructure and pure assets.