NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. – A New Smyrna Beach couple has not lived in their home for more than three years after floodwaters from Hurricane Ian burst through it in the middle of the night. They have been waiting years for grant funding to demolish and rebuild their home.
Cheryl Booth, who has owned the home for 20 years, described the damage as the house starts to crack.
“This one is enough to scare anybody, look at this,” she said, pointing to the damage.
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A structural engineer deemed their home “temporarily unsafe for habitation.” The engineering report detailed numerous cracks on the walls, uneven flooring and other damage caused by flooding.
“Due to the extent of the damage combined with the age of the home, in order to flood mitigate this home, it is my professional opinion that this structure is unfeasible for a typical elevation,” the report said. “It is strongly recommended that this home be demolished and reconstructed.”
“I’ve been here several times because it is my home, but seeing it like this is very unsettling. I don’t have a home,” Booth said.
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Booth and her husband applied for FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which provides funding to communities to help strengthen buildings, homes and infrastructure after disasters. Hurricane Ian caused widespread flooding and damage across Florida in 2022, leaving many homeowners waiting months or years for federal disaster aid.
However, Booth told News 6 her application has still not been reviewed. The last update she received was in December, saying her application is still waiting for review and approval from FEMA.
“I’m still paying mortgage on a house I can’t live in, homeowner’s insurance, flood insurance,” Booth told News 6.
Booth is not the only one waiting. The City of New Smyrna Beach confirmed to News 6 it is waiting for reimbursement.
Under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, municipalities apply for the grant. These municipalities then submit sub-applications on behalf of homeowners, businesses and nonprofits. In this case, the city submitted Booth’s application.
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According to a New Smyrna Beach spokesperson, the city is “still involved in the FEMA reimbursement process to repair waterfront public assets also damaged by hurricanes in 2022.”
Those projects include:
- 27th Avenue Beachfront Park on South Atlantic Avenue (playground recently rebuilt; promenade, pedestrian access ramp and seawall in repair)
- North Causeway boat ramps
- Brannon Center boat dock (recently rebuilt, awaiting finishing touches and final inspection)
News 6 asked FEMA why it is taking so long to review these applications. A spokesperson sent News 6 this statement:
The Florida Division of Emergency Management administers the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. FEMA supports the state by ensuring projects comply with federal law and providing funding. The HMGP is designed to implement long-term measures that will reduce future risk to life and property while saving communities money in the long run. The City of New Smyrna Beach submitted the grant application to the State of Florida. When the Florida Division of Emergency Management completes and submits to FEMA the legally required environmental review, FEMA will move the project to the next steps. FEMA is committed to working with the state to complete the remaining steps as soon as possible.
FEMA Spokesperson
News 6 called and emailed the Florida Division of Emergency Management but has yet received a response to our questions.
To help speed up the process, News 6 also contacted Booth’s congressman, Rep. Cory Mills. His office is looking into the status of her application.
News 6 will continue to follow this story and provide updates as they become available.