Essex County wants FEMA money

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September 27, 2011

Officials remain unsure of time line for federal funding

LOHR McKINSTRY Press-Republican The Press Republican Tue Sep 27, 2011, 03:28 AM EDT

ELIZABETHTOWN — Essex County is waiting for federal funding to pay for flood damage, but Federal Emergency Management Agency representatives don't know when it will be coming.

Severe storms in April and August caused millions of dollars of damage to county and town infrastructure, but members of the Essex County Board of Supervisors said Monday they haven't been paid for any of it.

CRUCIAL FUNDS

The county was declared a federal disaster area for both storms, and FEMA funds are supposed to be paid to reimburse municipalities for roads and bridges that were destroyed.

FEMA Community Relations Manager Donald Hawkins was at the county meeting Monday to answer questions.

"Is there any idea how long it will take before money will reach us?" Supervisor Daniel Connell (D-Westport) pleaded.

They haven't even been paid yet for April's flood, Supervisor Randy Preston (I-Wilmington) said.

"We're five months from the first disaster, and we haven't seen a penny. It's crucial to all of us to know when that money is going to come."

MONEY COMING

Hawkins said he didn't have any definitive time frame for reimbursement but said the county would be getting paid.

"Everything is continuing as usual (toward reimbursement). There may be other issues. I don't know."

He assured lawmakers that FEMA personnel would stay for the long term.

"We're not going home. We're here for you all," Hawkins said.

DEBRIS IN STREAMS

Board of Supervisors Chair Randy Douglas (D-Jay) said he's meeting with Gov. Andrew Cuomo today to try to hasten state help.

"This is way beyond us. I had a whole dam that filled with river rock," Douglas said. "We need help, we need manpower, and we need the Army Corps of Engineers."

After the meeting, he said local crews have done as much as they can.

"I am very appreciative of the work our town and county highway departments are doing when they get in the streams and rivers and that they are doing a great job with the manpower and equipment they have. But for the big picture, all the work that needs to be done is beyond our capabilities."

Essex County Emergency Services Director Donald Jaquish said a preliminary waterways impact study was done through FEMA.

"It identified several needs, and one is debris removal from streams and rivers. We have photos that show a tremendous amount of debris in streams — tires, dead animals, propane tanks."

He said they need extensions of the emergency state permits that allowed stream disturbance for flood cleanup.

RIVER CHANGES

"I've got people's garages hanging over river banks. They don't have the means to fix that," Douglas said. "We're (local officials) not experts at fixing a river bank. The Ausable River has changed its course of action. Something needs to be done. They need to send personnel immediately."

Mill Brook and Mackenzie Brook in Moriah also changed course, Supervisor Thomas Scozzafava (R-Moriah) said.

"If we don't get in there, and without the remediation, we're going to be right back where we were."

Supervisor William Ferebee (R-Keene) said he's in the same situation in the Town of Keene.

"This spring (2012), it will wash out again."

The county unanimously passed a resolution to urge the governor and Congress to authorize inspection and mediation of streams and rivers that changed course during Irene.

Email Lohr McKinstry at: lmckinstry@pressrepublican.com