Manatee County will receive nearly $44 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to cover hurricane debris removal and emergency response costs, the agency announced Tuesday.

The grant is the largest share of the Public Assistance money in a $116 million Florida package spanning 88 projects, WWSB reported. The money pays for clearing more than 1.2 million cubic yards of vegetative and construction debris from public roads and property after hurricanes Debby and Milton.

The county finished hauling storm debris Feb. 7, 2025, Manatee County's solid waste division said. Crews made multiple pickup passes, and monitors verified each zone before the effort was declared finished.

That $44 million is not new spending. FEMA's Public Assistance program pays local governments back for expenses they have already incurred, so the grant repays Manatee County for cleanup and emergency operations it financed in the months after the 2024 storms.

Two FEMA programs fund the Florida package

The Florida grants draw from two FEMA programs. Over $66 million comes through Public Assistance, which covers debris clearance, emergency protective measures and infrastructure repairs. More than $50 million flows through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which funds projects to reduce future storm damage. Nationally, the announcement tops $781 million across more than 490 projects, the Tampa Free Press reported.

Separate from HUD housing recovery money

The FEMA grant is separate from the more than $252 million in disaster-recovery funding Manatee County received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for unmet housing, infrastructure and mitigation needs from the same hurricane season, the county said in its Lasting Manatee announcement.

"Recovery is not one-size-fits-all," Commission Chair Tal Siddique said in May, when the county announced an in-person intake center to help homeowners apply for that aid.

Other Southwest Florida grants and next steps

In Sarasota County, the city of Sarasota will receive more than $751,000 to repair storm surge damage at Indian Beach Park from Hurricane Milton. North Port will get over $660,000 for police response to Hurricane Ian.

Statewide, over $46.4 million will fund home elevation, buyout and rebuilding projects covering 62 residences in flood-prone areas.

It is unclear whether the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners must vote to formally accept the grant. No commission agenda item related to the money has been posted.