FEMA OK's $1.7 Million Reimbursement For Storm-Damaged Roanoke Utility Repairs 

Release Date: December 8, 2003
Release Number: R4-03-271

ATLANTA, Ga. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said today it would reimburse the Roanoke Electric Membership Corporation $1,724,683.65 for electrical distribution repairs in five counties affected by Hurricane Isabel. Repairs were done in Northampton, Gates, Hertford, Halifax and Bertie counties.

The federal funding is authorized through FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) cost-share program and represents 75 percent of eligible costs. The remaining 25 percent will be paid by the state. The program is administered by North Carolina and eligible disaster-related costs are reimbursed to state and local governments and certain non-profit organizations that provide essential quasi-governmental services. The total cost of the project was $2,299,578.20.

Michael D. Brown, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response at the Department of Homeland Security, said, “These funds represent this agency’s continuing efforts to assist communities as promptly as possible in their emergency needs after a disaster.”

Roanoke Electric qualifies for the program as a nonprofit utility. For-profit utilities pay for their own repairs. The project included work to restore the electrical distribution system throughout the five counties, by replacing poles, transformers, overhead service, and ground wires, and by installing splices and sleeves throughout the system, and numerous other repairs.

Hurricane Isabel hit the North Carolina coast on September 18 and President Bush responded to the state’s request for federal assistance with a major disaster declaration for 26 counties. An additional 12 counties were subsequently added, bringing the total of counties included in the PA declaration to 38.

On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA’s continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 09-Dec-2003 09:43:34