Collier County and the Florida Association of Counties (FAC)

are hosting a

FEMA Issues Meeting

Hilton Bonnet Creek, Orange County Nassau Meeting Room

June 18, 2014 3:30 p.m.

Hurricane WilmaOctober 2005

Collier County Addresses FEMA

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Deobligation and Floodplain Mapping

Collier County, Florida

Other Concerns of Communities, Governments and Organizations Statewide with FEMA

Nick Casalanguida, Gary McAlpin, Debbie Wight

FEMA’s Disallowed Cost InitiativeFEMA’s nationwide goal was recovery of $800 million

in obligated Funds through Disallowed Cost Initiative.$275 million deobligated in about 200 governments,

state agencies, schools and other entities, imposing critical fiscal burdens on communities in the State of Florida.

$11.2 million deobligated from Collier County alone…FEMA Appeals decisions and litigation positions

assert no attention should be paid to FEMA decisions relied on by local governments.

Collier County’s Deobligation

Collier County received $13.9 million to restore beaches damaged by Hurricane Wilma in 2005.

FEMA revised allowable costs previously approved, obligated and paid in 2012.Decisions without discussionsIgnore existing rules, regulations, time constraints Opinions instead of technical factsOnly one-way communications

First Appeal in 2012, to date no Appeal action.

Collier’s Deobligation $11.2 Million

Collier’s Deobligation appeal based on:

FEMA did not correctly determine the amount of eligible replacement sand.

FEMA erroneously rejected Collier’s engineering reports.FEMA improperly holding Collier to initial approved Scope

estimates.The Stafford Act disallows these FEMA deobligations.

Section 705(c)

Floodplain Mapping FEMA requested extensive data/detailed engineering to

support updated mapping.FEMA regulations require remapping when more accurate

data is available.Collier spent $400,000 to correct outdated maps.FEMA now claims:

Inadequate funding prevents remapping flood areasStudies indicate thousands of homes in outdated floodplain

designationsFEMA’s lack of funding for remapping is unacceptable and

costly to Collier County citizens.

Issues Remain Unresolved

Individually, Collier not successful in getting response: 10 years since storm events 2 years since appeal filed; 1 year since meeting with

Regional AdministratorLetters of support to FEMA from members of the

Congressional Delegation

Working TogetherCollier County is not unique with FEMA concerns and issues.FEMA has been non-responsive and totally lacked any urgency in

addressing the issues.Exploring broadening strategy across Florida

10 years since storm events Coalition of agencies with comparable problems

Retroactive deobligations? Flood map issues?

Unified voice with focused, consistent messageState and federal participation of elected officials Information, experiences and results sharing Legal strategies and lawsuits

Wildlife & Habitats

Recommendations

Working coalition of organizations with comparable interests and problems is needed to address FEMA actions and inactions burdening communities.

Engagement and interaction with members of both the Florida State Legislature and U.S. Congress are key.

Others???

Coalition Participation Governments, state agencies

and other organizations statewide may fill out and email a response using a

FEMA Issues Interest Form posted on Collier County’s

website:

www.colliergov.net/femaissuescoalition