FDEM Finalizing Details on Elevate Florida Program to Protect Homes from Natural Disasters

Posted On: January 17, 2025

The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) has announced that its Elevate Florida program is in the final stages of development, with significant updates expected in the coming weeks. This program aims to enhance community resilience by mitigating private residences against natural hazards.

Through the program, the following types of projects may be considered eligible:

• Structure Elevation: Structure elevation activities generally involve physically raising an existing structure utilizing various methods. Utilities must also be properly elevated. Buildings proposed for elevation must be structurally sound and capable of being elevated safely.
• 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.
• Structure Acquisition: Generally, acquisition projects consist of a community purchasing at-risk structures from voluntary sellers and either demolishing the structures or relocating the structures to a new site outside of the hazard-prone area. The purchased property is then maintained, in perpetuity, for open-space purposes and to restore or conserve the site’s natural floodplain functions.

FDEM has developed an Elevate Florida FAQs document to help residents learn more about the program as it progresses. Residents are encouraged to sign up for direct updates from FDEM to stay informed about program developments, eligibility criteria, and the opening of the application portal.

For more information, visit the Elevate Florida website or email residentialmitigation@em.myflorida.com.