The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved nearly $800,000 in grants to improve tornado safety measures in three Florida counties.
FEMA awarded 12 Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) grants totaling $790,405 toward projects in Lake, Volusia, and Sumter Counties, the agency announced this month. The money comes from funds FEMA made available to Florida in the wake of tornadoes that struck the state on Christmas Day 2006 and Groundhog Day 2007.
The counties will use the grants for programs that include improving citizen notification retrofitting public buildings for better wind resistance, improving first responder communications, and enabling mass notification of those with manufactured homes.