Officials report slow FEMA reimbursements, discuss mitigation steps and state disaster contingency request

Mills County emergency management staff updated commissioners on the status of FEMA public-assistance funds and mitigation work, saying several projects have been obligated by FEMA but funding disbursement from the state has been slow and incremental. The county’s project manager, David Shaw, reported a backlog of projects and partial funding that has taken “a year and a month or two” to reach the county’s account in limited amounts.

Shaw said two projects are in final review and several more remain under negotiation; he estimated a number of smaller projects and one remaining larger set of projects could produce several hundred thousand dollars more in reimbursements if they advance. He said FEMA’s current internal review approach treats projects over $100,000 as requiring additional signatures and review steps, which is slowing reimbursements.

Shaw discussed the county’s options for advancing repairs and mitigation work. He said FEMA public assistance (PA) rules have limited ability to purchase equipment directly and that while the PA policy manual contains language allowing equipment acquisitions in certain circumstances, the county would likely face cash-flow and administrative hurdles if it chose that path. He recommended considering lease-purchase arrangements or other financing instead of committing county funds to large purchases without clear, near-term reimbursement.

The court also discussed mitigation work and the need for engineering and hydrology studies to support mitigation project submittals. Commissioners and staff said they have solicited local engineering firms through a qualifications process and asked those firms to prepare the documentation FEMA and the state mitigation team need for technical review. Shaw said the county has repeatedly requested that mitigation inspectors or technical staff visit project sites to confirm feasibility and review submitted cost estimates, but that responses have been slow.

Shaw described a separate option: submitting a State Assistance Request (STAR) under Section 418 of the Government Code to seek contingency funds held by the state for disasters. He said Mills County could apply for an advance from that contingency to cover projects FEMA has not yet funded, but that the county does not have precedent or clear guidance on whether the advance would be a grant or a loan, or what repayment terms — if any — would apply. County staff said they have prepared required documentation and can submit a STAR if the commissioners direct them to do so.

Commissioners asked staff to pursue engineering support for mitigation packages and to continue pressing state and federal reviewers for project funding. No final decision was made at the meeting about a STAR submittal; staff said they would return with further details and recommendations.