Gov. Rick Scott’s office will appeal the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s decision to deny the state a major presidential disaster declaration for Tropical Storm-Hurricane Isaac, which skirted the state in late August.
FEMA notified Florida on Wednesday that it was rejecting the application, though without explanation.
In notifying FEMA on Thursday of the state’s intent to appeal, Scott also said in a letter to FEMA Director Craig Fugate that the state was expanding its request for a major disaster declaration by adding Broward, Franklin and Martin counties, where Scott said damage estimates are more than $9.8 million.
The original seven counties in the request are Bay, Collier, Escambia, Monroe, Okaloosa, Palm Beach and Santa Rosa.
Scott said in his letter that the total statewide damage figure for all 10 counties is now $36.7 million.
