FEMA and Florida consider HMGP funding to elevate Agnes Drive homes

FEMA and the Florida Division of Emergency Management are weighing Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding for a home elevation project on Agnes Drive in Altamonte Springs, Seminole County, according to a joint federal/state public notice posted by Seminole County dated Jan. 27 and published Jan. 30, 2026. The notice identifies the project as HMGP-4673-0119-FL and ties the proposed work to Hurricane Ian mitigation.

The notice joins a broader set of state and federal HMGP actions. A cumulative final public notice released by state officials notes that "The United States Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be receiving subgrant applications from the State of Florida for acquisition and demolition, wind retrofit, mitigation reconstruction and/or elevation of residential properties." That statewide notice cites Executive Order 11988 and 44 Code of Federal Regulations Part 9.12 as procedural authorities and frames a program of expedited mitigation activities that may be located within, affect, or be affected by floodplains or wetlands.

Program eligibility and finance rules will shape whether and how Agnes Drive homeowners participate. Officials stress that "Your community must have an approved hazard mitigation plan and be willing to participate in the program." Applicants do not apply directly to FEMA; "You cannot submit the application for an HMGP grant directly to FEMA. You must apply for the grant through your State, community, federally recognized tribe, or certain non-profit organizations." Homeowners should also expect a cost share: "FEMA generally pays 75 percent of the cost of the mitigation action, and the homeowner is responsible for the other 25 percent."

Technical standards and mapping work will determine final elevation requirements. FEMA guidance explains that "Freeboard, which is additional elevation above the ABFE or Effective BFE, may also be required by the community." FEMA has signaled that new preliminary flood hazard information and updated Flood Insurance Rate Maps will be released and undergo public review before adoption. The agency also notes strict building requirements for elevated homes: "Basements are not permitted. To be compliant, existing below-grade areas must be backflled."

The public notice process includes opportunities for community input and administrative appeal. Under NFIP Part 67 rules, "When the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) proposes new or modified flood hazard determinations, it must, in accordance with Part 67 of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) regulations, provide the affected communities with a 90-day appeal period." Seminole County residents on Agnes Drive should watch for follow-up notices and any local hearings that detail scope, timelines, and whether elevations, buyouts, or other measures will proceed.

For homeowners, the key trade-offs are clear: elevation can reduce future flood damage and lower insurance premiums if work meets or exceeds base flood elevations and any community freeboard, but it typically requires a local match and planning approvals. The county notice and subsequent state or FEMA filings will determine which properties qualify, precise elevation standards, and the schedule for work. Residents should monitor county communications and be prepared to consult design professionals and local permitting officials as the project moves forward.