It’s been since the latter part of February that Marshall County residents, in addition to those in neighboring counties, have endured cleanup and repairs since the flooding event. A disaster declaration named Marshall County and several dozen others in order to receivefederal dollars to assist in the recovery effort.
Seven months later paperwork is still being requested in order to recoup any funding from FEMA.
Marshall County Commission President Kevin Overmyer stated in Monday’s commissioners meeting that Highway Supervisor Jason Peters, Surveyor Craig Cultice and EMA Director Clyde Avery have all exhausted time in following through with the same requests for public assistance paperwork that were made in the beginning and new requests even this late in the process. Avery believes that FEMA works with an independent contractor out of Texas who pay strict attention to detail which has caused all of these additional requests.
Avery told the commissioners that he suggested to the Department of Homeland Security that some sort of guidelines be put in place for swifter results.
“Prior to an event occurring they really need to come out and educate the folks and come up with a checklist format on what documentation they need in order to try and minimize the amount of time that’s spent getting that information,” said Avery. “I know that Craig [Cultice, Surveyor] and Jason [Peters, Highway Supervisor] have expressed their frustration. It’s almost as if they’re throwing up road blocks to try and get you to the point where you just get frustrated and give up.”
He added that the more difficult they make this process the less likely that entities will apply for help which impacts the entire state. It will be harder and harder to get federal declaration.
“It’s going to be a situation where we’re going to have to take care of ourselves. They’re looking at catastrophic incidents not necessarily disasters.”
It is not known when FEMA will make a final determination on reimbursement for the county. Other counties are facing the same issues.
Commissioner Overmyer said it’s probably time to bring back the discussion of putting seed money into a not-for-profit organization that assists those who need money to bridge the gap for what insurance doesn’t pay and those who don’t have insurance. Commissioner Kurt Garner suggested that the Long Term Recovery Committee set up through the United Way be that not-for-profit vehicle for that purpose and Avery said that as long as the same members are willing to stay committed to the job then that would be ideal. He said many of those members put in more hours than a full-time job to assist neighbors in the disaster recovery effort.
More discussions will take place in a future meeting.
