Cost of storm cleanups mount

By: Mike Conley | McDowell News
Published: February 04, 2010

The federal government has money available to local governments in western North Carolina for the snowstorm that struck the mountains in December, but it will only cover a fraction of the estimated $30,000 it cost Marion to clean up after the first storm of the season.
And with last week's storm and whatever happens today, the price tag will rise.
Gov. Bev Perdue recently received a federal disaster declaration from Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate for the snow and ice storms that struck the mountains in December. The declaration will provide more than $9 million in federal funds available to eligible state agencies, 13 county governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency work and needed repairs to facilities damaged by the winter storm.
"The federal declaration has come at an opportune time and will help our communities recover from their losses," said Perdue, who requested the FEMA assistance. "Many of these same counties incurred additional costs last weekend responding to our most recent snow and ice storm."
The disaster declaration covers Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Haywood, Jackson, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Watauga and Yancey counties. Watauga and Madison counties incurred the most damage.
Under the FEMA rules, local governments can only apply for money to cover the damage and debris removal caused by the December storm. For example, the city of Marion can only apply for $5,216, which doesn't include the actual costs of snow removal.
"It's limited in what you can claim," said Harriett Thomas, finance director for the city.
The $5,216 would cover just damage to a 30-foot awning at the city's Public Works Department, the removal of some trees and overtime pay for police who worked at a shelter. But the actual costs from the December storm could be more than $30,000. That amount includes the overtime for Public Works employees and use of equipment to actually clean the streets of snow, said Thomas.
"That is the lion's share because our folks worked 24 hours a day," she said. "For our budget, it can be devastating."
The McDowell County Public Works Department did not have much cost from the December storm. "We actually saved money because we didn't open," said Mike Gladden, director of the county Public Works Department. "We didn't have anything damaged. We weathered the storm."
Figures from the town of Old Fort were not available at deadline.

Cost of storm cleanups mount

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