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Burke County manager updates board on $11.4M FEMA public assistance application
Summary
County manager reported Burke County has applied for roughly $11.4 million in FEMA public assistance after storm recovery; about $12,000 has been reimbursed so far and disputes remain over debris monitoring and trailer fill percentages that could affect the county’s final obligation.
Burke County’s manager told the Board of Commissioners Nov. 17 that the county’s public assistance application with FEMA totals roughly $11.4 million and remains under review.
The manager said the county has been working “every single day” on the application and has engaged FEMA attorneys, state emergency-management personnel and congressional staff. Categories F and G have produced limited reimbursements so far (about $12,000), while Category A (right-of-way debris) and Category B (emergency operations/staff time) remain unresolved. The manager explained that FEMA’s public assistance policy manual (the PAAG) has changed multiple times during the review, complicating application details and measurement rules.
A central dispute involves how FEMA measures debris inside temporary staging trailers. The manager said a monitoring firm, Debris Tech, recorded quantities that FEMA questioned; FEMA’s interpretation of trailer fill percentages and what it will allow for reimbursement has sent the county’s application back through additional review levels. The county has reached the large-project review stage — legal, environmental, archaeological and financial checks — but no final obligation had been made at the meeting.
The manager said some counties were offered negotiated settlements by FEMA for trailer utilization, but Burke County has been advised not to accept such settlements at this time. He said county staff believes they have acted in accordance with state procurement and noted continued communication with Congressman Moore’s office and the state department of emergency management.
No formal board action was taken on the item during the meeting; the manager said staff will keep the board updated as negotiations and reviews proceed.
