To

Mayor and Council

Subject

FEMA Disaster Relief funds for Hurricane Irma expenses

Initiator

Finance Department

Recommendation

Approval is requested to permit the City Manager or his designee to request and \n \n accept, as awarded, Public Assistance funds from the Federal Emergency \n \n Management Agency (FEMA) for reimbursement of disaster response, recovery, and \n \n sheltering expenses associated with the Presidentially-declared disaster caused \n \n by Hurricane Irma on and around September 11, 2017 and to coordinate the \n \n reporting, receipt, and disbursement of these reimbursements with applicable \n \n city departments and to enter into a MOU with Columbus Public Health Department \n \n and Midtown Medical Center for the receipt and disbursement of FEMA funds for \n \n expenditures they incurred. \n \n

Approval

Pending

Background

Hurricane Irma landed in the Southeast in early September 2017 and travelled to

and beyond Columbus on September 11, 2017, resulting in a

Presidentially-declared disaster covering the area. As a result, the city of

Columbus and other local agencies involved are eligible for reimbursement of

expenditures related to emergency response, recovery, and sheltering of

evacuees.

Analysis

Expenses eligible for reimbursement by FEMA include but are not limited to,

debris removal, emergency services, medical services and supplies,

transportation, housing and food services for over 600 evacuees, and repair or

replacement of damaged assets.

Financial Considerations

There is no additional cost to the city to receive these reimbursements and no

local matching funds required. All expenditures have already occurred. This

program will reimburse the city for those expenditures that qualify under the

FEMA disaster relief program. Some reimbursements will belong to the Health

Department and Columbus Regional, but the city will incur no obligation for

these reimbursements, as they will only be forwarded after receipt by FEMA.

Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement

This funding will reimburse the City for expenditures already incurred. There

is no additional cost to the City.

Legal Considerations

The City is eligible to receive these funds as a result of disaster #4338DR.

Because the Health Department and Midtown Medical Center are not affiliated

with the City, but need to be on the same application as the City, the City

will need to issue a MOU to govern the receipt and disbursement of funds due to

them.

Recommendations/ Actions

Authorize a resolution to approve the City to request reimbursement of eligible

expenditures incurred as a result of this disaster, and if awarded, accept

funds from FEMA and disburse funds received as appropriate to the corresponding

city departments and entering into a MOU with Columbus Public Health and

Midtown Medical Center for the receipt and disbursement of funds due to them

from FEMA.

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