President Donald Trump unveiled his first budget blueprint on Thursday and, to offset increases in defense spending, the president is proposing $54 billion in cuts -- one of which could have a big impact locally with respect to hurricanes.
Hurricane Matthew left a path of destruction in October as it swept up the east coast. In Vilano Beach, residents and officials are still cleaning up.
It's just one of the areas that rely on federal money, but a lot of that money could be gone next year.
The Trump administration's proposed budget calls for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to cut state and local grant funding by $667 million, including the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program and the Homeland Security Grant Program.
That would impact a lot, including mapping flood planes in local areas so builders don't put houses on them. Critics of the budget also said it would eliminate a lot of FEMA funding to respond to disasters.
John Ward, director of Clay County Emergency Management, told News4Jax on Friday that the agency relies heavily on federal dollars.
"Obviously, we'd have significant losses in our local and state monies," Ward said.
There is also concern that the budget could affect the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which handles a lot of the beach renourishment.
"Unfortunately, at the federal level, they're really starting to pull back on the beach renourishment projects because they build up the beaches, then we get a storm or a nor'easter, and it washes it away again. So it's a constant, repetitive battle.
In a statement released by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla, on the president's budget, he says, in part, "I agree that we must do whatever is necessary to keep our country safe, but cutting all of these important programs to pay for things, such as a wall, just doesn't make any sense."
News4Jax found that public opinion was split.
"I don't think there'll be too much trouble. The world, overall, seems to take pretty good care of itself in the United States. I don't think it'll be too much of a disaster we really need to freak out about," said one person, who did not wish to be identified. "He knows what's best. He's the president."
But others thought differently.
"We live in Flagler. And our beaches got tore up really bad, so relief money really helped. They're working on it now -- five months later -- and they're local people and they can't afford it," said Ralph Beattie, resident of Flagler County. "Cut FEMA money to go for the rest -- not a good idea. We need FEMA."
As far as FEMA funding, Ward said that they've seen federal debates like these before and have still wound up with the funding in the end.
A FEMA spokesperson sent the following statement to News4Jax about the proposed budget:
"The Administration is still finalizing the details of the fiscal year 2018 President’s Budget. While recognizing this blueprint is not the full federal budget, it does provide a view of the priorities of the President and his Administration.
"In today’s fiscal environment, FEMA remains committed to a continued review of FEMA programs with a concentration on efficiency and effectiveness while maximizing each dollar invested.
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For more information on PDM grants, visit FEMA’s website at https://www.fema.gov/pre-disaster-mitigation-grant-program."
FEMA responds, then HUD steps in
More than $3 billion for 9/11 recovery efforts. More than $15 billion to rebuild after Hurricane Sandy. Nearly $20 billion to help victims of hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma.
They're huge sums of money -- all approved by Congress and then handed down to states and cities, which use the cash under strict federal rules.
Under Trump's 2018 budget plan, the program that put those dollars into local hands would be zeroed out, raising questions about how readily the cash would be available when the next disaster strikes and what oversight would be in place to ensure it is not misused.
"Is the administration actually sunsetting the entire program and cutting stuff? Because there is no existing vehicle except this one to fund all the things the feds want to fund in the aftermath of a disaster," said Jeffrey Thomas, an attorney who served as a special assistant to New Orleans' recovery and development office after Hurricane Katrina.
When disaster happens, all eyes turn to FEMA. It's that department that foots the bill for immediate response efforts, such as bottled water and hotel vouchers. FEMA also covers the longer-term costs of repairing public assets, from water pipes to public schools.
But helping private property owners is another matter. Federal money to help homeowners and business operators rebuild traditionally has been funneled through the Community Development Block Grant Program, or CDBG. It's run by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
For instance, after hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the state of Louisiana used $9 billion in CDBG money to fund individual grants to help owners rebuild their flooded homes.
Another $715 million went toward long-term community redevelopment. In New Orleans, the money was used to buy land for a new Veterans Administration hospital, provide incentives for fresh grocers to set up in storm-ravaged areas and fund dozens of similar projects, Thomas said.
"That money comes quick," said retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré, an expert in emergency preparedness and disaster recovery who spearheaded efforts to secure New Orleans in the days after Katrina. "People have relied on those block grants to get those communities back up. The availability of that money, I cannot overstate it."
Trump's plan proposes eliminating the CDBG budget, for an estimated savings of $3 billion. The administration claims "the program is not well-targeted to the poorest populations and has not demonstrated results." Federal resources would be redirected to "other activities," the blueprint says.
Delivering federal disaster money
In an ordinary year -- one without a major disaster -- local governments use CBDG money to supplement their operating budgets in ways that are supposed to help the disadvantaged. Some give a portion to community organizations, such as Meals on Wheels, to achieve that goal.
But after an earthquake or a terror attack, the same federal apparatus gears up to deliver enormous congressional appropriations to communities in need.
"We're talking billions of dollars that are instantly allocated," Thomas said. "When you zero out CDBG, that's one thing. If you dismantle the program entirely, you're dismantling any ability to move that money through to disaster-affected areas."
That doesn't mean federal money wouldn't be available for communities in need, Honoré said.
"Congress would find another way to do it," he said. "They'll find another way to get that money to communities."
But until the Trump team provides more details, it's not clear how recovery dollars would get to people in need.
"What's going to happen? Have the staff twiddling their thumbs until a disaster?" Thomas said. "It doesn't suggest they've thought this through."
CNN contributed to this report.