Rebuild Florida's Mitigation Programs

In April of 2018, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that $633 million in first-of-its-kind Community Development Block Grant - Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) funding would be available to the state of Florida for disaster mitigation projects in areas impacted by presidentially declared disasters in 2016 and 2017.

On February 02, 2021, HUD announced an additional $46.9 million in federal mitigation funding for communities impacted by Hurricane Michael. To access the funding, the Department worked with state agencies and community partners to draft a substantial amendment to the existing State Action Plan for CDBG-MIT funding.

Programs

The funds made available through HUD's Community Development Block Grant - Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) for 2016-2017 storms were used to fund these disaster mitigation programs to better protect Florida communities from future disasters:

• Rebuild Florida Critical Facility Hardening Program ($75,000,000 - Launched April 15, 2020)
  

• Rebuild Florida General Planning Support Program ($20,000,000 - Launched May 15, 2020)
  

• Rebuild Florida Mitigation General Infrastructure Program ($475,000,000 - Launched June 15, 2020)
  
  
  

State Action Plan

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) led the state's efforts in creating the federally required State Action Plan that provides a high-level strategy for how the funding will be used to address eligible communities' disaster mitigation needs. The State Action Plan was developed in partnership with state agencies working on resiliency efforts, as well as with input from local communities and stakeholders to determine Florida's most critical disaster mitigation needs.

The State Action Plan Approved by HUD is posted below.

English: 2020 State of Florida Mitigation Action Plan

Spanish: 2020 Plan de Acción de Mitigación del Estado de Florida 

Haitian Creole: 2020 Plan Daksyon Kontwol Dega Eta Florid la


DEO held a 45-day public comment period during which comments were submitted on the State Action Plan. A summary of comments is included in the State Action Plan.

To access CDBG-MIT funding available for Hurricane Michael-impacted communities, DEO has developed a substantial amendment to the State Action Plan, which is posted below for public comment. 

Action Plan Amendments

• English: 2020 State of Florida Mitigation Action Plan - Non-Substantial Amendment 1 - Effective as of 5/19/2021

• Spanish: 2020 Plan de Acción de Mitigación del Estado de Florida - Enmienda 1 (No Sustancial) - Efectiva a partir del 5/19/2021

• Haitian Creole: 2020 Plan Daksyon Kontwol Dega Eta Florid la - 1yèm Modifikasyon (Non-Sibstansyèl) - Efikas kòm 5/19/2021
  

• English: 2020 State of Florida Mitigation Action Plan – Substantial Amendment 2 – Available for public comment May 24-June 23, 2021

• Spanish: 2020 Plan de Acción de Mitigación del Estado de Florida - Enmienda 2 (Sustancial)

• Haitian Creole: 2020 Plan Daksyon Kontwol Dega Eta Florid la - 2yèm Modifikasyon (Sibstansyèl) 

• Public Comment Form

The deadline to submit public comments on the substantial amendment is June 23, 2021. DEO encourages all comments to be submitted using the online Public Comment Form. However, comments may also be submitted by mail to:

Attention: Office of Long-Term Resiliency
Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
Mitigation Team
107 East Madison Street Caldwell Building, MSC 160
Tallahassee, FL 32399-2100;

English - Rebuild Florida Mitigation Funding Virtual Public Hearing | Español - Reconstruir la audiencia pública virtual de financiamiento de mitigación de Florida
English - TRANSCRIPT - Rebuild Florida Mitigation Funding Virtual Public Hearing | Español - TRANSCRIPCIÓN - Reconstruir la audiencia pública virtual de financiamiento de mitigación de Florida

Community Workshops for Hurricane Michael Mitigation Funding

As part of the development of the Substantial Amendment to the State Action Plan, DEO hosted a series of regional public workshops across the Florida Panhandle to seek feedback and input for the use of CDBG-MIT funds. 

Community Workshops for Previous Mitigation Funding

As part of the development of the State Action Plan, DEO hosted a series of regional public workshops in Florida communities impacted by storms in 2016 and 2017 to seek feedback and input for the use of CDBG-MIT funds. Times and locations are shown below, along with the presentation that was given.

Community Workshops PowerPoint Presentation | Spanish | Haitian Creole

Statewide Webinar for Hurricane Michael Mitigation Funding

In addition to the in-person workshops, DEO hosted a public webinar on April 26, 2021, to provide another opportunity for information and feedback. The webinar recording, along with the slides and transcript, is posted below.  

• Slides - CDBG-MIT Michael Public Webinar Presentation  | Spanish
• Transcript - CDBG-MIT Michael Public Webinar

Statewide Webinar for 2016-2017 Storms

To provide more information on the state’s new mitigation program, DEO hosted a statewide webinar on Wednesday, October 16. The webinar and its transcript are posted below.



Transcript - CDBG-Mitigation Statewide Webinar October 16, 2019
Slides - CDBG-Mitigation Statewide Webinar October 16, 2019 | Spanish | Haitian Creole

Timeline

April 11, 2018 – HUD announced state of Florida would receive $633,485,000 for mitigation activities in Florida communities that experienced major declared disaster events during 2016 and 2017.

April 11, 2019 - One-year anniversary of HUD announcing state of Florida would receive $633,485,000 for mitigation activities. The required Federal Register outlining rules governing the use of mitigation dollars had yet to be published.

August 23, 2019 - HUD published the Federal Register necessary for DEO to work with partners to develop the federally required State Action Plan.

December 6, 2019 - DEO posted initial draft of State Action Plan for public comment.

January 20, 2020 - Public comment period closed.

February 3, 2020 - DEO submitted the State Action Plan to HUD. HUD now has 60 days to review and either approve or disapprove the plan.

April 3, 2020 - State Action Plan approved by HUD.

April 15, 2020 - Rebuild Florida Critical Facility Hardening Program launched.

May 15, 2020 - Rebuild Florida General Planning Support Program launched.

June 15, 2020 - Rebuild Florida Mitigation General Infrastructure Program launched.  

February 02, 2021 – HUD announced state of Florida would receive $46,900,000 for mitigation activities in Florida communities impacted by Hurricane Michael

April 15, 2021 - DEO launched the CDBG-Mitigation for Hurricane Michael Survey.

April 20-22, 2021 - DEO hosted a series of public workshops in communities impacted by Hurricane Michael to seek input for the use of CDBG-Mitigation funds

April 26, 2021 - DEO hosted a public webinar to seek input for the use of CDBG-Mitigation for Hurricane Michael funds.

May 24, 2021 - DEO to post initial draft of the Substantial Amendment to the State Action Plan for public comment.

Citizen Advisory Committee

• Citizen Advisory Committee for Mitigation Webpage

Program Policies

• Mitigation Policy Manual
• CDBG-MIT Citizen Participation Plan | Spanish | Haitian Creole

Procurements and Solicitations

• Mitigation Contracts
• Purchasing and Contracting Guidelines
• Purchasing Policy

Quarterly Performance Reports to HUD

• Mitigation Grant Performance Report for Quarter Ending March 31, 2021