LAKE HELEN, Fla. – City leaders in Lake Helen are meeting Thursday night to confront a growing financial burden, nearly $2 million in storm recovery expenses that still haven’t been reimbursed by FEMA.
The money stems from damage caused by hurricanes Ian, Nicole, and Milton, with some requests dating back to 2022.
The city has submitted nine separate FEMA projects, covering debris removal, emergency protective measures, and critical road repairs. Despite completing the work and submitting documentation, officials say most projects are still listed as “under review” or pending inspection.
[VIDEO: Congressman discusses FEMA concerns for Florida’s hurricane season]
Mayor Vernon Burton says the lack of movement is jeopardizing key infrastructure, especially in flood-prone neighborhoods.
“Church Street had road erosion because of the water,” Burton said. “And then you have Pennsylvania Avenue, which we had to close off. You can’t go through it anymore.”
North High Street and Church Street are among the most flood-affected areas in the city. According to city records, mitigation work, including embankment stabilization and drainage improvement, has been planned, but funding remains uncertain.
To help with the FEMA process, Lake Helen contracted a third-party consultant last year. Still, delays persist.
“We’ve learned not to count on the government to be as responsive as we’d like,” Burton said. “We’re using our reserves to keep moving, but we don’t want to drain them. We’re waiting for the train to catch up to us.”
Thursday’s meeting will include a public discussion about the city’s options moving forward, including whether to pull additional funds from reserves while awaiting reimbursement.
City staff say they’ve done everything required by FEMA. Now, they’re hoping for answers.
The meeting will begin at 7 p.m.