FEMA Approves More than $35 Million for Storm Recovery
Five Southwest Missouri projects approved
Release Date: April 24, 2007
Release Number: 1676-021
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COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Five clean up and repair projects for damages from January's severe winter storm totaling over $35 million have been approved by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). These five projects in southwest Missouri are for debris removal and monitoring costs and repairs to damaged distribution systems of two electric cooperatives.
Total costs for the five projects are $35,235,701. Of that amount, FEMA has obligated $26,886,727, or 75 percent, to the state of Missouri to reimburse the applicants. Under the Public Assistance program, the agency will provide 75 percent of eligible costs for work required as a result of a presidentially declared disaster. The state is the grantee and will administer the funds, reimbursing applicants as work is complete.
With a total project cost of $15,255,100, the City of Springfield 's debris removal is the largest single project approved. Ice accumulations from the storm brought down trees, limbs and other vegetative debris. The city used contract labor to collect from city rights-of-way, haul and dispose of approximately 1,750,000 cubic yards of vegetative debris. Of this total, FEMA's share of $11,441,325 has been obligated to the state.
Greene County will receive funding for two related projects: actual debris removal and contracted costs for monitoring all aspects of the removal process. The second largest approved project is the county's debris removal expense: $10,425,500. The county used contract labor to collect, haul and dispose of approximately 1,200,000 cubic yards of vegetative debris from roadways within its jurisdiction. This does not include the rights-of-way along state highways that run through the county. The federal share of this project, $7,819,125, has been obligated to the state.
In order to ensure that only debris that was eligible under program criteria was collected, the county hired a firm to monitor the debris collection process. Total cost for monitoring was $2,091,873; federal share of $1,568,905 has been obligated to the state.
Two electric cooperatives, Ozark Electric and Southwest Electric, will receive funding for labor and equipment costs, materials, contractor and mutual aid services to repair and restore the distribution lines and services damaged by the ice storm.
More than 50 miles of Ozark Electric Coop's conductor were damaged throughout Lawrence County . This funding will assist with replacing over 1,300 poles and 146 transformers to restore the electrical distribution system to its pre-disaster condition. Total cost of the project is $5,623,423; FEMA's share of $4,217,568 has been obligated to the state.
In Polk County, miles of Southwest Electric Coop's conductor were severely damaged. Hundreds of poles, 105 transformers, and other materials will be used to restore the system to pre-disaster conditions. Total project cost is $2,453,073; federal share obligated to the state is $1,839,805.
The $26.8 million represented by these projects brings to more than $48.7 million the amount of federal funds obligated to the state for various recovery projects from the January ice storm.
FEMA's Public Assistance program provides financial assistance to state and local governments and eligible non-profit organizations for disaster-related cleanup and repair of damaged facilities to pre-disaster condition. FEMA pays 75 percent of eligible costs; the state of Missouri and the applicant share the remaining amount. The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) manages the program and reimburses applicants for their eligible costs.
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 24-Apr-2007 16:26:11