Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 24, 1994                   TAG: 9403240286
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: New River Valley bureau
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Short

FEMA WILL ASSESS TOWN'S ICE DAMAGE

Town Council passed a resolution Tuesday night authorizing the town manager to apply for federal money to help recoup some of the expenses incurred.

Technically, said Blacksburg Assistant Town Manager Bonnie Svrcek, the town is applying for money to ease the cost burden associated with clean-up after the first storm. But she said there's no way to differentiate between which tree limbs broke when, so the money will apply to both storms.

The town can apply for up to 75 percent of the uninsured costs associated with storm recovery. In Blacksburg's case, that amounts to equipment costs, some overtime costs and the expense incurred when the town had to ship in water from Radford when its own supply ran out, Svrcek said.

She said the town is in the process of putting together a cost estimate, and that federal officials were scheduled to review documents next week. It will probably be several months before any money is turned over.

Svrcek said the town received about $23,000 in FEMA funds following last March's blizzard, and she expected the town would apply for more than that in the wake of the ice storms.

"I believe this will be worse," she said.