Haywood County Schools says FEMA, insurance expected to cover most flood-damaged athletic-field repairs

Haywood County Schools officials on Tuesday outlined repairs to athletic fields and related flood damage across the district and said insurance and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reimbursement should cover most costs.

Mister Haynes, a Haywood County Schools staff member who presented the facilities update, told the board a turf field at Pisgah is covered by insurance but carries a $100,000 deductible that he expects FEMA will reimburse. "We should be able to get that $100,000 back as well, which would then ... have a 0 obligation for us on fixing the field at the end of the day," Haynes said.

Haynes said a district spreadsheet included demucking, structural and electrical engineering oversight, fencing replacement and contents estimates for multiple sites. He identified a wind-insurance policy that carries a $100,000 deductible payable up to $750,000 and said the district can combine multiple site claims under that policy. He said engineer oversight for several projects is being provided by CDC (engineer oversight) and that demucking and debris removal work used contractors who followed FEMA protocols.

The update named contractors and timelines: Mid South won the bid for several fields (Pisgah and Canton baseball/softball) and had been slated to start the next day, with an optimistic projection of sod installed by Christmas and fields playable by the season. RCF Construction was identified as the contractor for Tuscola baseball and softball work; Haynes said the board had previously given a formal OK for RCF to proceed. FenceScapes provided quotes for multiple fence repairs and the district asked the board to allow FenceScapes to begin work under emergency authorization held by Dr. Putnam so fence crews can follow behind Mid South activity.

Haynes cautioned that some work could risk FEMA reimbursement if procurement requirements were not followed. He said projects redone formally in summer (laser grading and full sod) likely would not be eligible for FEMA reimbursement if the summer work differed from current temporary repairs; those full re‑do costs could approach $200,000–$400,000 per field.

Haynes also reported that Southern Disaster Recovery (SDR), the debris‑removal contractor, was nearing closure of its FEMA claim and the district had a meeting scheduled with FEMA next Tuesday to work toward closing that claim. He listed smaller cleanup items at Waynesville Middle, Tuscola Greenhouse tree damage, Central Haywood ball fields and food-loss claims.

Board members repeatedly emphasized speed: one board member said a 90‑day goal to get fields ready was important so student athletes could practice before the season. Haynes said most fencing can be rolled up and reused and that FenceScapes estimated 80–90% of chain link components would remain reusable; replacement costs being quoted included replacing silver outfield fencing with black fencing to match community preferences.

The district reported the present financial-risk column on its summary as zero in many cases, reflecting the district expectation that either insurance deductibles or FEMA Public Assistance reimbursement will cover the work. Haynes noted that the reimbursement process is slow but, based on prior experience with Tropical Storm Fred (2021), the district expects to recover eligible expenses.

Next steps include allowing FenceScapes to proceed under the superintendent's emergency authorization, Mid South beginning field repairs as scheduled pending weather and logistics, continuing engineer oversight, and the district meeting with FEMA to advance claim closures.

Board discussion also flagged procurement compliance and the possibility that work done now might preclude later formal redo reimbursement; the board asked staff to track procurement documentation and engineer oversight to preserve eligibility.