NRECA has advised us that FEMA has instituted a restriction for the Disaster
Relief Fund (DRF) for "immediate needs funding" only. This means public
assistance grants are limited to debris removal and emergency protective
measures (categories A and B)- obviously this does not include our Category
F grants. Congress added funding to the DRF after Harvey but since Irma and
Maria hit FEMA is afraid they may run out of money and will not lift the
restriction until after the immediate threats are over and they've had time
to reassess funding levels. FEMA assured NRECA that the restriction will be
lifted (and these projects will be funded) - they just can't say when.
Two more supplemental funding bills are expected before the year is through
and then in December there will either be another continuing resolution or
(hopefully) an actual appropriations bill funding DRF and the government
through FY 2018.
Sincerely,
Michelle Hershel
Director of Regulatory Affairs
Florida Electric Cooperatives Assoc.
2916 Apalachee Parkway
Tallahassee, FL 32301
(850)877-6166 ext.3
(850)656-5485 (fax)
-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Bjorklund [mailto:mike@feca.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2017 8:12 AM
To: Michelle Hershel (mhershel@feca.com)
Cc: allison@feca.com
Subject: FW: FYI - DRF Restriction
Fyi
Mike Bjorklund
Executive V.P. & General Manager
Florida Electric Cooperatives Assoc.
2916 Apalachee Parkway
Tallahassee, FL 32301
850-877-6166 ext. 1
The contents of this email and any attachments are confidential. It is
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From: Johnson, Kirk D. [mailto:kirk.johnson@nreca.coop]
Sent: Monday, September 25, 2017 9:50 PM
To: resma <resma@lists.cooperative.com>
Cc: Duggan, Martha A. <martha.duggan@nreca.coop>; Kaumaya, Billie
<Billie.Kaumaya@nreca.coop>; Cassady, John M. <John.Cassady@nreca.coop>;
Morrison, Jay A. <jay.morrison@nreca.coop>; Bourge, Bridgette L.
<Bridgette.Bourge@nreca.coop>
Subject: FW: FYI - DRF Restriction
Dear Statewide CEOs -
I wanted to you see the note from Billie (one of our new lobbyists most of
you have not yet met) regarding the state of FEMA Disaster Relief Fund
resources. As you may recall, right as Harvey was pouring water into Texas,
FEMA decided to prioritize DRF recipients because it was running low on
funds. Even though Congress restocked the DRF a couple of weeks ago, that
was a temporary measure, and as Billie's note explains below, FEMA will
continue to prioritize DRF funding to immediate needs in the wakes of
Harvey, Irma, and now Maria.
Just situational awareness.
-K
From: Kaumaya, Billie
Sent: Monday, September 25, 2017 3:03 PM
To: Lobby Unit
Subject: FYI - DRF Restriction
Hey team - we've been getting questions about the disaster relief fund. See
below for an update/fyi and let Bridgette or I know if you have any
questions.
Thanks,
Billie
Earlier this month, FEMA implemented a restriction for the DRF for
"immediate needs funding" only. This means public assistance grants are
limited to debris removal and emergency protective measures (categories A
and B). This is a standard process that occurs when their funding falls
below $1 billion. Even though Congress passed supplemental funding for
Harvey, between Irma, Maria and potentially others (hurricane season is
ongoing), FEMA is concerned about running out of money and has decided not
to lift the restriction until after the immediate threats are over and
they've had time to reassess funding levels. FEMA has full discretion to
implement this restriction. As of last week, 90% of FEMA staff were
deployed and they were focusing on these immediate needs. Some of our
members are concerned about ongoing projects (not in the areas affected by
Harvey, Irma and Maria) - FEMA assured us that the restriction will be
lifted (and these projects will be funded) - they just can't say when. We
expect 2 more supplemental funding bills before the year is through and then
in December we'll either have another continuing resolution or (hopefully)
an actual appropriations bill funding DRF and the government through FY
2018.
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