All three beach cities now share the same FEMA-guided debris-monitoring and grant-consulting contractor after the Neptune Beach City Council voted unanimously Aug. 18 to piggyback on a five-year contract with DebrisTech.

Jacksonville Beach originally procured the contract in September 2025, and Atlantic Beach joined before Neptune Beach's vote. The alignment means that if a hurricane or other disaster strikes the coast, DebrisTech will provide monitoring and related services across Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach and Jacksonville Beach under a shared contract structure designed to meet FEMA requirements, according to the Beach Gazette.

Public Works Director Deryle Calhoun presented the contract terms at the council's regular meeting, framing the agreement as preparation rather than a response to an immediate threat.

"This is a tool in our toolkit in case we have a disaster that requires debris removal," Calhoun told the council. "In the event of a disaster, FEMA has certain requirements. This proposal would be to provide that monitoring requirement of the FEMA rules so if we were to attempt to get recovery, we would make sure we have all the boxes checked."

Under the contract, Grubbs Emergency Services would perform physical debris removal. DebrisTech would handle inspection, monitoring, reporting, load tickets, field data collection, truck certification and credentialing. Its subcontractor, Synergy Disaster Recovery, would provide program management, grant management and public advisory services, the Beach Gazette reported.

Neptune Beach previously used DebrisTech during Hurricane Irma in 2017 and issued the company a letter of recommendation in 2018.

Who Foots the Bill, and When

Under current federal rules, Neptune Beach would pay DebrisTech and Synergy upfront after a disaster, then seek FEMA reimbursement.

Mayor Cori Bylund noted pending federal legislation that could alter how FEMA funds certain disaster work. The Fixing Emergency Management for Americans Act, H.R. 4669, would shift much of FEMA's Public Assistance program from reimbursement to a grant-based model. It would also require FEMA to provide up to 25% of the approved federal share for emergency work, including debris clearance, within 10 days of a disaster declaration. It would not generally require FEMA to pay all disaster costs upfront, according to a congressional research report.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee voted 57-3 on Sept. 3, 2025, to order the bill reported as amended. As of June 30, 2026, the measure had 87 bipartisan co-sponsors, had not received a House floor vote and had no Senate companion bill, the report states.

"Part of that act is FEMA paying up front, so that will be some relief that we can get at the federal level," Bylund said at the Aug. 18 meeting.

No dollar amount for Neptune Beach's share of the contract was disclosed. Costs would depend on whether a disaster occurs and how much debris must be removed.

Residents can check nbfl.gov for upcoming council agendas and public-comment opportunities.