• Hurricane Ian assistance exceeded $4.45 billion, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency
• FEMA provided $859 million to households affected by Hurricane Ian and $503 million to the state in emergency response to the storm
• The U.S. Small Business Administration granted $1.37 billion in disaster loans, while the National Flood Insurance Program paid $1.72 billion in claims to survivors of Hurricane Ian
• The Florida Department of Health also received more than $1 million from FEMA on Tuesday for emergency protective measures as a result of Hurricane Matthew

More than $4.45 billion in federal grants, disaster loans, and flood insurance payments have been provided to the state of Florida and its households as of Jan. 3rd to assist residents affected by Hurricane Ian.

In total, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provided $859 million to households affected by Hurricane Ian and $503 million to the state in emergency response to Hurricane Ian, while the U.S. Small Business Administration granted $1.37 billion in disaster loans, and the National Flood Insurance Program paid $1.72 billion in claims to survivors of Hurricane Ian.

Hurricane Ian made landfall on Sept. 28, pummeling Florida’s Gulf Coast as a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 155 mph before cutting across the state towards the east coast. The storm left a path of destruction across the Sunshine State, producing catastrophic flooding and deadly storm surge.

The storm brought catastrophic damage to the region with some areas reporting flood waters as high as 12 feet, wiping away buildings, homes, and incapacitating healthcare operations.

Meanwhile, FEMA is still doling out aid for Hurricane Michael, which made landfall in the Florida panhandle as a Category 5 storm in 2016, causing upwards of $2.77 billion in damages

On Tuesday, Sen. Marco Rubio stated on Twitter that FEMA provided the Florida Department of Health with more than $1 million for emergency protective measures as a result of Hurricane Matthew.

The brief message failed to expand on what the emergency protective measures consisted of.

The Capitolist attempted to reach both FEMA region 4 and the Florida Department of Health for further details, but did not receive an immediate response.

.@fema has announced it will provide @HealthyFla more than $1 million for emergency protective measures as a result of Hurricane Matthew.

— Senator Rubio Press (@SenRubioPress) January 3, 2023

By March 2017, FEMA approved 6,754 applications for individual assistance in relation to Hurricane Matthew, totaling $19.9 million. The agency also approved $20.6 million in public assistance grants, mostly related to emergency work.