TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — Whether or not it was trying to find solutions on allowing delays, substantial harm letters, or who to carry accountable, folks throughout the Tampa Bay space confronted hurdle after hurdle to get again into their houses after final yr’s storms swept by means of the state.
Lots of these questions and considerations nonetheless stay, particularly for people who’re nonetheless caught outdoors their houses eight months after hurricanes Helene and Milton made landfall.
“Let’s not overlook there’s six months of non-hurricane season that these municipalities can prepare. I imply this actually must be one in every of their high priorities,” mentioned State Senator Nick DiCeglie, (R-Indian Rocks Seaside).
After hurricanes Helene and Milton, residents within the bay space have been met with frustration ready on permits to rebuild their lives.
“The truth that we’re going eight months in to submit hurricane Helene and a few people have but to get a allow in a few of these jurisdictions, to me, was simply unacceptable,” mentioned DiCeglie.
These challenges pushed lawmakers to craft and cross laws that requires cities and counties to submit detailed post-hurricane allowing plans by Might 1st of every yr.
“It is nonetheless a protracted and really irritating course of, but when we will minimize the time in half, it’ll make an enormous distinction,” mentioned DiCeglie.
The invoice additionally seems to forestall the bureaucratic “ping-pong” residents confronted between native businesses and FEMA.
“I believe it’ll make clear the communication. I’ve heard numerous people say, you already know, FEMA desires me to do that, properly, FEMA is admittedly only a funding mechanism,” mentioned DiCeglie.
DiCeglie provides that property homeowners ought to get their solutions straight from their native authorities and never should bounce round making an attempt to get permits.
“I believe if we will form of get that line of communication straight with the federal government entity that is accountable for processing these permits, I believe that is going to ease numerous the confusion and actually streamline that course of,” mentioned DiCeglie.
Over on Capitol Hill, the plan to wean off FEMA only continues with President Donald Trump saying he desires to “part out” the company and provides it much less cash.
“What we have got to do is re-envision what FEMA does,” mentioned U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-Florida) when requested concerning the company’s future.
A FEMA revamp seems prefer it might occur after this hurricane season. Trump says states would receive less federal aid to response to natural disasters.
As of now, the hurricane invoice on the statehouse awaits Governor Ron DeSantis’ approval.
