Elevate Florida program for home flood-proofing deadline is today. How to apply
The deadline to apply for a Florida program to help people whose homes are at risk for flooding ends tonight.
Elevate Florida, a state program from the Florida Department of Emergency Management, launched in February to provide at least $400 million in federal grant funding to homeowners to cover up to 100% of their flood-proofing efforts without out-of-pocket expenses to them. Projects include the reconstruction of a damaged or demolished building, wind mitigation, knocking a building down to sell it to the community as open space, or even raising an existing building above the water.
Flooding has been a serious and relentless issue for coastal Floridians battered by hurricanes and threatened by rising seas, and inland residents with inadequate drainage who see waters rise with every rainstorm.
Another popular state program, My Safe Florida Home, also helps incentivize Floridians to harden their homes to withstand the onslaught of nature better. More than half a billion dollars in state money has been paid out for homeowners to replace roofs, windows and garage doors to mitigate storm damage.
Elevate Flooding offers to cover 75% of the cost of protecting a property from future flood damage, with 100% coverage possible if your insured property has been hit multiple times.
'We have this brand-new program — it's the first of its kind in the country,' Department of Emergency Management Executive Director Kevin Guthrie told a Senate committee. 'We can actually make a homeowner whole between their insurance payout and the Elevate Florida program. With access to this money, what has to come out of their pocket is nothing.
The deadline to get your application is 7 p.m. EDT, Friday, April 11, 2025.
Elevate Florida is designed to expedite the process of protecting your home against future flooding by providing funds to cover at least 75% of the cost of improving your property. The program began with at least $400 million from two federal grants.
Unlike similar flood-proofing grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Elevate Florida promises a quicker turnaround as it's administered through the state.
Homeowners will be required to provide up to 25% of the costs determined in the evaluation phase before inspections are completed. You'll be provided with a detailed breakdown of the construction and cost and can decide then if you want to move forward, according to the state's website..
The grant will also cover at least 75% of your relocation costs (moving out/in and storage) during construction.
However, if your National Flood Insurance Program-covered building has been repeatedly hit with flood damage, you may be eligible for up to 100% in funding. However, homeowners must still be prepared to contribute up to 25% of the project's total cost to be considered for Elevate Florida.
To apply for Elevate Florida, individuals must:
Be 18 or older
Be a U.S. citizen
Be the legal property owner of a residential property in the State of Florida
Contribute up to 25% of the project's total cost
Properties must be owned by an individual, not a corporation or commercial entity such as a limited liability corporation.
Elevate Florida prioritizes homes that have been hit with repeated losses that are covered by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFLP). Communities that have been ravaged by storms will also be prioritized.
When you apply, you must select one of four project options:
Structural elevation, or physically raising an existing building.
Mitigation reconstruction of an improved, elevated building where an existing structure or the structure's foundation has been partially or completely destroyed.
Acquisition of a building from a voluntary seller and demolition to be maintained by the community as open space (the community must agree to this)
Wind mitigation measures, including alterations to the roof, doors or other vulnerable components, which can be an alternative for homes not sturdy enough to elevate
The deadline to enter your application is 7 p.m. EDT, Friday, April 11, 2025. Any draft applications that have not been submitted will not be considered for funding.
To apply for the state program, visit Elevate Florida's website and portal at fdem-resmit.my.site.cmo/Elevate.
To speed the application process up, property owners are advised to have the following information and documents:
Photos of the building from all four sides
Insurance Declaration pages (if available)
Elevation Certificates (if applicable)
Geotechnical reports (soil studies) (if applicable)
Flooding photos or high watermark photos
Insurance claim information
Substantial damage determination letters from local government (if applicable)
Combined income as reflected on your most recent tax return
Contributing: Anne Geggis, Palm Beach Post
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Elevate Florida program home flooding risk: Last day to apply
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