Fiscal Year 2023 Capital Assistance for Hurricane Response and Recovery Efforts (CARE) - Heart of Florida Health Center, Inc. (HFHC), located in Ocala, Florida, proposes to mitigate the impact and strengthen the capability and capacity to provide quality patient care following future disasters through two (2) Alternation/Renovation projects. All of Marion County, and therefore the HFHC Main Clinic and HFHC Drive-Through Pharmacy, fall within the FEMA designated disaster area from Hurrican Ian. HFHC requests a total of $490,000 to complete both projects. For the first A/R project, HFHC will use the funds to repair and protect the 64,715 SF roof at the Main Clinic and ensure that it will be capable of withstanding wind and rain from future storms and disasters. Winds from hurricanes and tornados that are often spawned by hurricanes are capable of causing catastrophic damage to building and especially roofs. In its current condition, the Main Clinic roof is incapable of withstanding high winds and significant rain. The roof will be repaired and restored using a Gaco Fluid-Applied roof restoration system. All work will be performed by an approved vendor with appropriate licenses and projected to be completed by March 30, 2024. Cost of this project is $462,000. HFHC will also purchase and install a 3-phase manual transfer switch that will be used to connect HFHC's existing portable Generac generator to the HFHC Drive-Through Pharmacy's electrical circuits to provide emergency power in case of a power outage. Loss of power is a tremendous threat to the provision of services and will damage medications and vaccines requiring refrigeration and/or freezing. The pharmacy will be used as a central location for medications and vaccinations if power loss occurs on a wide-spread basis impacting more than one HFHC clinic site. Medications will be safely stored, and patients will be able to receive medications despite the power-outage. A total of $490,000 in federal funding is requested.
