Disaster recovery process begins

John Gallagher of the Federal Emergency Management Agency asks for a show of hands from those in the audience who have filed for disaster relief benefits in the past during a meeting held on the second floor of the Vernon County Courthouse on Friday, Feb. 18, 2011. Gallagher and Candace Adams of the State Emergency Management Agency held the meeting with city, county and township representatives from across Vernon County to inform them of the requirements and process for applying for the state and federal disaster funds. In the top photo, a worker clears away mountains of snow in a parking lot near Cedar and Austin on Feb. 9.

City, county and township representatives from across Vernon County converged on the second floor of the county courthouse on Friday afternoon to meet with representatives of the state and federal emergency management agencies. The meeting was initiated by SEMA representative Candace Adams regarding the declaration of Vernon County as eligible to receive disaster relief funds to offset the cost of snow removal during the storm that dropped up to 18 inches of snow on the county earlier this month.

John Gallagher, a FEMA representative opened the meeting by asking how many of the nearly three dozen present had applied for similar services in the past. Gallagher acknowledged that past disasters had been flood related and said, Missouri has never done a snow removal before. "We're gong to lead you through this" process of gathering information and getting it to the right place.

Each representative of the various entities was given a form listing the kinds of information they need to gather and provide. The governmental agencies want things like the names of employees and timesheets, equipment types and descriptions, hours used and operators' names. Invoices for materials on hand or purchased for aid in the removal of the massive amount of snow are requested. And contracts for labor or equipment and rental agreements for equipment used during the clean-up effort also will be valid documentation of expenses incurred. If equipment was damaged during the effort, a statement of how the damage occurred and an invoice of repair costs can also be turned in to recoup some of the cost.

Gallagher informed all present that the dates for filing the proper information and forms for reimbursement of snow removal related expenses would run from Jan. 31 through Feb. 5. He said that, "on a snow disaster, what we deal with is a 48-hour period, consecutive." He said those filing should choose the most expensive 48 hours of that time frame and seek reimbursement for that period. "This is going to be different," he said, "FEMA does not like to pay for snow."

It was quickly made clear that only overtime hours would be reimbursed. That led to questions from township board members about their road clearing personnel that normally don't work a 40-hour week. Gallagher was firm in his statement that only overtime hours would be reimbursed. Machinery or equipment and materials costs would also be reimbursed on an hourly basis according to the type of machinery and materials used and the hours of use. It is entirely separate from the overtime, but includes the cost of fuel and ordinary maintenance.

Questions about the damage to the county's roads as a result of the storm were also raised. "This is going to have to be fixed over the next several weeks," said Charles Comstock, the Coal Township trustee.

"That's damages, right now, we're only doing removal," said Gallagher. "We can't project damages." He encouraged assessing damages now and continuing to keep track of them for possible later reimbursement on those some of those costs.

The group went on to discuss fuel and contract labor and volunteer labor. Many of the roads were cleared by residents using their personal farm machinery. "If you had local people helping you with their equipment, that's a donated resource," Gallagher said. Those things are subject to the same reimbursement rates as every thing else.

Reimbursement rates for the various entities involved could run as high as 85 percent. That would leave 15 percent to be paid by the townships, cities or county. The federal government's share of the reimbursement is 75 percent of the costs for that 48-hour period. The state would be responsible for another 10 percent, but there were some who wondered if it would be worth the effort and others who were in favor of any help they could get. Center Township board member David Harris said, "it's going to more paper work than it's worth. They pinched it down to 48 hours -- we pushed snow all week."

Vernon County Presiding Commissioner Bonnie McCord said, "It sounds overwhelming, but if you go through the paperwork, it's worth it. I'd like to encourage the townships to try," Sheldon City Alderman Robert Moran said, it's the federal government, "FEMA has rules. If you work within their rules you can be successful." Getting the information to SEMA and FEMA is just the beginning of the process.

Adams is the SEMA area coordinator for area D, which covers 18 counties in southwest Missouri. Adams said something could be accomplished as early as the end of March. "If everybody does what they're supposed to do, we stand a good chance of a declaration." Adams said that when all of the documentation is submitted to them, they forward it on to Washington, D.C., where it is reviewed. If it passes muster there, then President Obama has to make the disaster declaration before any reimbursements can begin.