Fla. Cities can Apply for Hurricane Wilma Assistance
Additional federal money is being made available for home repairs in Florida communities affected by Hurricane Wilma almost two years ago, state officials said.
The federal government is releasing a new $100 million assistance package that will be distributed to local governments under the Community Development Block Grant Program, said Department of Community Affairs Secretary Tom Pelham.
Local governments will have to apply to DCA for a share of the money. At least 20 percent of it must go to repair or rehabilitate multifamily apartments. Money from the program can also be used for single-family home repair, hardening of homes, replacement of homes or apartment buildings or infrastructure repair.
The money also comes with a requirement that any home that is repaired with money from the grant also must be upgraded to better withstand future storms.
The money will be available to be shared by 18 Florida counties, some of which had more than $200 million in damage in Wilma, which hit in late October, 2005.