NC Department Of Transportation Eligible For Additional $3.5 Million In FEMA Funds For Ice Storm Debris Removal 

Release Date: March 18, 2003
Release Number: R4-03-33

Raleigh, NC -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that it will provide an additional $3.5 million in federal funds to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (DOT) to help cover the cost of debris removal undertaken in three counties following the ice storm that struck a large portion of state in early December.

These projects, intended to cover debris removal in Durham, Franklin and Orange counties, bring the total federal assistance to the state agency to $16,958.370. More than $13.4 million in federal funds have already been provided for 63 other DOT projects to cover eligible costs for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and damages to public roads and buildings.

FEMA provides 75 percent, or $3,538,222, for the total project's cost of $4,717,630, and the State will provide the remaining 25 percent. One debris removal project is for $1,771.945 for work in Durham County, and the other two cover the same type of work in Franklin ($948,223) and Orange ($818,054) Counties.

"These latest projects are just another example of the magnitude of storm debris and the untiring effort that State DOT employees have made to help communities in these three counties and throughout the affected areas in the state to quickly recover from the effects of the ice storm," said Mike Brown, FEMA director and under secretary designee for the Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate, a part of the Department of Homeland Security.

The funds are made available under the FEMA Public Assistance program to the 43 counties that were declared disaster areas by President Bush. Administered by the State of North Carolina, the program provides reimbursement for eligible disaster-related costs to government and certain private non-profit organizations providing essential government-like services in the area of emergency protective measures, debris removal, and restoration of public facilities.

In addition to the North Carolina DOT, nearly 300 other applications for reimbursement have been submitted to FEMA as the result of the ice storm.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 25-Mar-2003 12:03:06