ST. PETERSBURG, Fla — President Joe Biden amended the Florida Disaster Declaration by increasing the level of federal funding and extending the time period for its use, according to a news release.
The amendment states:
Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. made additional disaster assistance available to the State of Florida by authorizing an increase in the level of Federal funding for debris removal and emergency protective measures undertaken in the State of Florida as a result of Hurricane Ian beginning September 23, 2022, and continuing.
The amendment continues,
Under the President's order today, the time period for 100 percent Federal funding for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, has been extended for an additional 30-day period.
The president issued a major disaster declaration for Florida on Sept. 29 as Hurricane Ian was predicted to hit Florida's southwest coast.
Federal funding was made available for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, at 100 percent of the total eligible costs for a period of 30 days from the start of the incident period.
Ian made landfall as a Category 4 storm around 3:05 p.m. Sept. 28 along the southwestern coast of Florida near Cayo Costa, the National Hurricane Center said. It had maximum sustained winds of 150 mph, with even higher gusts.
At 4:35 p.m., Ian made a second Florida landfall — a mainland landfall — south of Punta Gorda as a Category 4 storm packing 145-mph winds.