TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Sen. Nick DiCeglie is advocating for legislative reforms to streamline the allowing course of for residents rebuilding after pure disasters.
He cited inefficiencies in how native governments interpret and apply FEMA rules.
“Clearly, the allowing concern has been such an issue, particularly right here in Pinellas County,” DiCeglie mentioned throughout an interview on Florida’s Voice with Drew Steele. “A lot of them are decoding the method of those permits to get folks again of their properties otherwise. They’re decoding FEMA rules and FEMA guidelines otherwise.”
.@NickDiceglie: “We have now a possibility to take all of these classes, and incorporate that into a bit of laws that streamlines the method, clarifies it.” pic.twitter.com/X0DsdehH9G
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) January 23, 2025
DiCeglie emphasised the necessity for a unified strategy, proposing laws that may require native governments to plan forward, make clear their processes, and supply transparency by means of accessible on-line sources.
“We have now a possibility to take all of these classes and incorporate that into a bit of laws that streamlines the method,” he mentioned. “It’s going to require native governments to plan forward, create a plan, showcase that plan on an internet site effectively forward of hurricane season. We’ve received to have some transparency right here. We’ve received to have some readability.”
The proposed reforms purpose to deal with frustrations skilled by residents trying to navigate bureaucratic hurdles whereas attempting to return to their properties after disasters.
“When of us try to get again into their properties, they’re not on the lookout for authorities to not know what to do,” DiCeglie mentioned. “We have to give some clear path to native governments—that is what to do, methods to do it—and there’s an expectation from the taxpayer that native governments do that successfully and effectively.”
DiCeglie acknowledged that authorities processes are sometimes not designed for effectivity, however says it’s vital for governments to rise to the event.
“After a pure catastrophe, when the residents want authorities essentially the most, to get them again into their properties, we’re going to ensure that they know what they’re doing transferring ahead,” he mentioned.
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