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FEMA reimbursements continue for coastal communities

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is reimbursing communities like Neptune Beach for expenses associated with Hurricanes Matthew and Irma.

The city estimates paying almost $1 million in storm expenses.

City Commissioner Rory Diamond tells Action News Jax the city requested almost $516,000 in reimbursements from FEMA for Hurricane Matthew, and a little more than $476,000 for Irma.

So far the city has received about $392,000 for Matthew, and Monday's check of more than $54,000 for Irma.

Diamond tells us the money goes into the city's coffers.

He says it replaces funds used for storm preparation and recovery.

“So we spent money on a ton of staff time," said Diamond. "So all of a sudden you need staff to build a berm with beach sand, you need staff to tell residents what’s going on.”

Diamond says the dunes and dune crossovers were decimated.

Action News Jax noticed dunes on the beach roped off for rebuilding.

Jessica Ramcharan, a mother who visits Neptune Beach frequently, recalled the destruction to her favorite place to relax.

“Some of them were really high and some of them were destroyed," said Ramcharan. "They were like, dropped down. It just depended on where you were.”

Not alone

Action News Jax learned Neptune Beach is not the only community in the process of being reimbursed. We confirmed the city of Jacksonville, Nassau County and St. John's County have also filed for reimbursements hurricane expenditures. We obtained numbers from all three local governments.

COJ

The city of Jacksonville submitted nearly $49.5 million in reimbursement requests for Matthew, and almost $6 million for Irma. FEMA reimbursements to date total $27.6 million for Matthew and zero for Irma.

St. Johns County

St. Johns County estimates damages from Irma to total about $34 million.

The county tells Action News Jax it spent $17.6 million in debris clean up.

"To date the county, for Hurricane Irma, has not received any funds," said Joseph Giammanco, SJC disaster recovery grant director. "However, $5.4 million in the final stages of approval.

Nassau County

For Hurricane Matthew, the county billed FEMA about $2 million.

To date the county has received a little more than $52,000.

For Irma, the county submitted expenditures of about $5.6 million.

County Commissioner Justin Taylor tells us FEMA is in the early stages of reviewing those expenditures.

"No funds have been obligated or reimbursed to the county as of yet," said Taylor.

Where's the money coming from?

Funds are available to cities and counties through the  Robert T. Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act or "Stafford Act" for short.

FEMA media relations manager Curtis Allen tells Action News Jax the state of Florida asked them to follow the process of reimbursement.

"FEMA does not reimburse local governments directly," said Allen. "FEMA funding is provided to the state, which then reimburses local governments.”

Allen said FEMA is helping more than 1,000 local governments and nonprofits get reimbursements for projects.

The work includes debris removal, protective measures and permanent work.

About 75 percent of eligible costs are federally funded.

As of now there is no set timetable for the remaining reimbursements.