SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Provide feedback on Parks and Recreation’s FDACS Hurricane Ian Grant Application.
Body
SUMMARY:
Community Forestry - Hurricane Ian Recovery (CF-HIR) Grant
In September 2022, Hurricane Ian struck peninsular Florida with extensive wind, flood, and storm surge impacts, causing significant damage to the urban forest. While making landfall as a category four hurricane with sustained winds of 150 MPH, this storm had significant and clear direct impacts on the urban tree canopy due to wind damage on the southwest coast of Florida. However, the impacts of this storm spread much further with flooding caused by excessive rain (between five and 20 inches, depending on specific location) and severe erosion in many locations. Hurricane Ian impacted most of peninsular Florida, with urban forest damage stretching from Fort Myers to Jacksonville.
This program aims to restore and enhance urban forests across 29 counties in Florida’s peninsular region that suffered damage from Hurricane Ian. Its central objective is to strengthen the resilience of these forests against future storms.
The Parks & Recreation Department has put together a grant application to request funds for the purchase, planting, and long-term care of 75+ resilient tree species at eight separate Parks & Recreation sites.
The total projected project cost is $58,823.49, with a 25% minimum grant match requirement, we will be requesting $44,117.62 in grant funding.