Today, the Florida Division of Emergency Management (Division) commended Governor Ron DeSantis for his commitment to disaster response, recovery, and resiliency through the Focus on Florida’s Future Budget. The 2024-2025 budget includes significant investments in supporting emergency response initiatives and streamlining recovery funding for communities impacted by disasters.
“I want to thank Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature for their consistent support and commitment, empowering the Division to best serve our residents,” said Division Executive Director Kevin Guthrie. “This year’s budget funds programs which help cultivate a more resilient Florida and lead the emergency management profession nationally.”
Key highlights from the FY 2024-2025 budget include:
– $1.2 billion in federal and state funding so that communities and the state can respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies, as well as mitigate against future disasters or emergencies.
– $121 million for the buildout and retrofit of a warehouse facility to ensure the Division is able to quickly and efficiently deploy necessary resources during a disaster.
– $33 million to assist fiscally constrained counties with hazard mitigation projects and strengthen their resilience against future disasters.
– $20 million to assist fiscally constrained counties with providing air-conditioned sheltering for their general populations and special needs populations during emergency declarations.
– $17.8 million to build out technology infrastructure within the Division’s new state-of-the-art emergency operations center.
– $10 million to fund the State Non-Profit Security Grant Program.
– $7 million to assist local governments with debris removal related to tornadic activity occurring in January 2024.
– $5.9 million to continue to streamline the Division’s grant management system and support expedited preparedness, recovery, and mitigation funding to Florida’s communities.
– $3 million to expand access to the Division’s emergency mission management system, enhancing resource management effectiveness during a disaster.
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