Oct 22, 2024Eligible Florida counties can now apply for federal disaster funding
Approximately $26 million in federal funding will be made available to Florida counties affected by hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton.
The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) began accepting applications on Oct. 18 for Emergency Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQUIP) funding. The funding will provide technical and financial assistance to agricultural landowners and producers in recovering from damages caused by the storms, according to a news release.
The sign-up period for disaster assistance ends Dec. 20.
The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) began accepting applications on Oct. 18 for disaster assistance funding in Florida counties affected by hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton. Map courtesy of USDA.
“NRCS is committed to helping Florida agriculture with every means available to repair damages to their land caused by Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton,” Juan C. Hernandez, NRCS State conservationist in Florida, said in the release.
NRCS Florida will evaluate disaster assistance applications using the ACT NOW process. ACT NOW allows NRCS to pre-approve ranked applications with scores meets or exceeding an established threshold.
The minimum threshold ranking score for EQIP disaster assistance funding is 50 points. Applications will be batched and processed in the order received, according to the release.
A webinar on Oct. 30 from 10 a.m. until noon EST will provide more information. Participants can join via ZoomGov.
Florida counties targeted for EQUIP disaster assistance include: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Brevard, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, Desoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, , Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, and Wakulla.
