Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 5, 1994 TAG: 9405050158
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By LESLIE TAYLOR and ADRIENNE PETTY STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
More than $12 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's public assistance program has been obligated so far to help governments and organizations recoup money spent on damage repair and cleanup.
President Clinton, responding to a request from Gov. George Allen, declared 71 jurisdictions major disaster areas after ice storms hit the state in February and March. Disaster officials put the total estimated damage covered under the FEMA program at $26.9 million.
FEMA funds will be disbursed through the state Emergency Services Department to eligible localities and organizations.
Towns and nonprofit organizations likely will be the first to receive checks, said Michael Kline, assistant coordinator of operations for state emergency services.
Many localities don't know how much assistance they will receive, in some cases because they are still cleaning up storm damage and assessing losses.
FEMA pays for 75 percent of the work, while 25 percent comes from state and local governments.
"We don't have final figures yet," said Vincent Copenhaver, chief accountant for Roanoke County. "Even this week, we're still cleaning up brush."
The county applied for $310,000 in aid, primarily for brush cleanup, he said.
Two weeks ago, Roanoke submitted damage estimates to FEMA. The city's estimated cost for debris removal was $181,730; $67,531 for snow and ice removal; $7,000 at Carvins Cove; and $107,098 for damage to schools, primarily roofs.
"We have not gotten word yet on when we will receive payment," said Diane Akers, the city's budget administrator. "It all depends on how fast they process the work."
City crews still are removing and grinding up the debris, Akers said.
Property damage estimates in Pulaski County had been $351,220 from the February ice storm and $636,000 from the one in March. The February storm caused $223,720 worth of damage to private property and $127,500 to public property, according to initial estimates. For the March storm, the figures were $501,000 private and $135,000 public.
Radford, the only city declared eligible for disaster relief for both the February and March storms, suffered an estimated $1.5 million in damages and cleanup costs.
The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors estimated damages from the February storm at $260,000 in a disaster relief petition approved last month.
In Franklin County, public safety administrators still are tabulating repair estimates.
"We're still trying to get our figures together," said Claude Webster, director of public safety. "But if they've earmarked $12 million for the state, that makes me feel good."
John Dooley, a community development planner for Bedford County, said the county has not requested a specific amount but has submitted receipts for small repair projects. The county was hit hard by both the February and March storms.
"The biggest problem is disposal of debris from fallen limbs and trees," Dooley said.
Wythe County Administrator Billy Branson said the aid in his locality would help reimburse the county Department of Social Services for setting up emergency centers and the Sheriff's Office for rescue and emergency work and would help cover the costs of burying storm debris.
Disaster surveys in Giles and Floyd counties have been completed, but the state has not ruled on eligibility for relief funding in either locality.
Staff writers Robert Freis and Paul Dellinger contributed information to this report.
by CNB