FEMA Rejects Florida's Request for Major Disaster Declaration, Scott to Appeal Decision: Report

The state has 30 days to appeal the decision

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has rejected Florida's request for a major disaster declaration from Tropical Storm Isaac.

FEMA rejected the request this week, but the declaration would have helped to get federal aid for seven counties in the state to pay for emergency response from Isaac, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported.

Gov. Rick Scott sent FEMA a letter on Thursday stating Broward and two other counties were added to the list. He also said he would appeal the rejection. Florida has 30 days to appeal.

"We were very surprised and very disappointed," assistant county administrator Vince Bonvento was quoted by the newspaper as saying.

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FEMA determined that the impact didn't meet the threshold necessary for federal assistance.

Florida was seeking aid for the approximately $27 million in damage to public property and emergency response bills, and with the addition of the three extra counties, that number rose to $37 million.

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