In response to the severe storm that blew through Mexico Tuesday, the Audrain County Emergency Management Agency is submitting damage reports to the State Emergency Management Agency to determine if federal funding is available for area storm victims.
Under the Public Assistance (Infrastructure) Program, the Federal Emergency Management Agency awards grants to assist state and local governments and certain private non-profit entities respond to and recover from disasters. Specifically, the program provides assistance for debris removal, implementation of emergency protective measures, and permanent restoration of infrastructure. The program also encourages protection from future damage by providing assistance for implementing hazard mitigation measures. FEMA also offers grants through its Individual and Household programs. Audrain has applied for both.
Disaster assistance is money or direct assistance to individuals, families and businesses in an area whose property has been damaged or destroyed and whose losses are not covered by insurance. It is meant to help residents with critical expenses that cannot be covered in other ways.
Audrain Emergency Management Director Sarah Williams said applying for the assistance is normal procedure when circumstances such as Tuesday's storm occur.
"When SEMA sees an area experiencing storm damage or other issues, they send out emails and make telephone contacts to determine if there are any immediate needs, or if the community can manage on its own," Williams explained. "This does not mean it's the end of the world, it's procedure; something we do anytime we have disaster damage."
Williams received her email and call from SEMA around 9 o'clock, the morning of the storm, she said.
Once the initial shock subsides and the city moves into the clean-up and recovery phase, Williams said the preliminary damage assessment (PDA) will help determine if the area meets federal and state thresholds for relief. When this is determined, the PDA will ask for a dollar amount for the different types of damage.
Tuesday's storm downed several trees and utility poles, caused electrical outages throughout Ledgerland and surrounding communities, caused property damage, and demolished a barn. No personal injuries were reported, and a dollar amount for the total damages has yet to been tallied.
Williams said there are two types of FEMA grants Audrain could be eligible for – Individual Assistance (IA), and Public Assistance (PA). IA is for private homes and small businesses, and PA is for infrastructure damages such as roads, bridges and basic utilities. Audrain County, she said, was a recipient of PA funds for flood and heavy rain damage that occurred in 2008.
Williams said there are some steps that home/property owners need to take. A homeowner is advised to work with their insurance first and determine what will or won't be covered under their policy – which takes precedence over the federal assistance.
"We first verify the homeowner has insurance and is cooperating with the insurance company. The two have to work together with each other. The insurance companies have rules they require you to follow, and so does the federal government," Williams said, noting paperwork is still being forwarded to SEMA – which in turn will determine, based on the per capita amount, if the jurisdiction and then the state have met their thresholds. Then, they will apply for a disaster declaration.
If a declaration is granted, Williams said the Audrain Emergency Management Agen-cy will make the information public, and assistance will be available to individuals who so desire and qualify.
The entire process, she said, could take several weeks depending on how widespread the disaster. From the onset to the point of completion, Williams said, it can sometimes take a year or longer to wrap up the details of declaration.
"It's not as simple as looking at the damage and picking up a check. There are a number of channels you have to pass through," Williams said. "First you have to meet the per capita threshold, then the state threshold, and then send all of that information to Jefferson City, where SEMA verifies that all requirements have been met. Then the governor appeals to the president, who in turn looks at everything and what damage there is, before he declares the area eligible for federal assistance."
Meanwhile, Williams advises storm victims to take the necessary steps towards recovery and rehabilitating their facilities and homes. She said homeowners should keep adequate records and contact the insurance company immediately. Property owners should also take photographs of their damage and document everything.
"That way, there is a potential for reimbursement if a declaration is made," Williams said. "So don't just sit and wait for the federal assistance. Take care of what needs to be taken care of now."
Williams further noted, that Audrain is only one of many Missouri counties that has suffered from recent weather-related damage. "Hannibal and Moberly may have had more flooding, where we primarily have had wind damage.
"It's really too early to tell at this point (if Audrain will qualify)," she said.
Mexico, Mo. —
