The Florida Department of Emergency Management (FDEM) has a new program called the Elevate Florida Program, which allows residents to apply for mitigation assistance.
What is Elevate Florida?
Elevate Florida is a first-of-its-kind, groundbreaking statewide residential mitigation program. Led by the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), this program is designed to protect homes and communities by reducing damage caused by natural disasters like hurricanes and floods. Elevate Florida is designed to expedite the entire process and complete a resident’s mitigation project.
Starting at the property owner level, the program may address:
• Structure Elevation: Physically raising an existing structure.
• Mitigation Reconstruction: The construction of an improved, elevated building on the same site where an existing building and/or foundation has been partially or completely demolished or destroyed. These activities result in the construction of code-compliant and hazard-resistant structures. Mitigation Reconstruction is the alternative to Structure Elevation when the structure is not sound enough to elevate, as determined during the application review.
• Acquisition/Demolition: A structure is purchased from voluntary sellers and demolished, to be maintained by the local community as open space. The local community must agree to participate in this project type.
• Wind Mitigation: Measures that reduce the risk of future wind damage to structures. This may include alterations to the roof, windows, doors, and other vulnerable components of structures. Wind mitigation is another alternative for homes that are not sound enough to elevate.
https://fdem-resmit.my.site.com/Elevate/ - This link has the links below, but if you want to go directly to the application, guide, or question/answer section, please select directly.
https://fdem-resmit.my.site.com/servlet/servlet.FileDownload?file=015cr000001naJV - Application
https://fdem-resmit.my.site.com/servlet/servlet.FileDownload?file=015cr000001naOL - Guide
https://fdem-resmit.my.site.com/servlet/servlet.FileDownload?file=015cr000001naPx – Q&A
For more information about Elevate Florida visit the portal at https://fdem-resmit.my.site.com/Elevate/ . Submit inquiries through the “Contact Us” page on the portal or email info [at] elevatefl.org (info[at]elevatefl[dot]org) . You can also call the contact center Monday–Friday from 7 a.m.–7p.m. ET at 877-ELEV8FL (877-353-8835). To access TTY services, dial 711.
Through a partnership with the Florida Department of Emergency Management (FDEM) and the Elevate Florida Program, residents of the City of Port Richey are actively pursuing funding and support to reduce the impacts of flooding and enhance community resilience. As of the latest update, the city has submitted a total of 67 applications across various mitigation categories:
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56 applications for Structure Elevation, aimed at raising homes and buildings above base flood elevation levels to minimize future flood damage.
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10 applications for Mitigation and Reconstruction, targeting structures that require more extensive retrofitting or rebuilding to meet updated flood-
resistant standards.
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1 application for Acquisition and Demolition, which involves the voluntary buyout and removal of a high-risk property to eliminate ongoing flood vulnerability.
These initiatives are part of a broader effort to reduce property loss, lower flood insurance costs, and protect residents from recurring flood events. The Elevate Florida Program is designed to provide financial assistance and technical support to local governments and property owners, enabling long-term, sustainable solutions for flood mitigation.