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EMA: 10 FEMA projects pending and county's Helene reimbursements could reach about $37 million
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Summary
EMA Director Cathy Umrichin told the commission that 10 Helene-related projects were pending award and that consultants estimate Carter County's total FEMA reimbursement could be roughly $37 million; Finance Director said Carter County has already received NRCS and other funds and is progressing through FEMA steps.
Cathy Umrichin, director of the county's Emergency Management Agency, told the Carter County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 15 that 10 Helene-related projects were pending award and that additional federal and state reimbursements were in process.
"There is a total of 10 projects that are pending award," EMA Director Cathy Umrichin said, and she added the county "has gained an additional $3 million." She summarized consultant estimates and said, "we're looking at Carter County total FEMA amount, we'll probably be about $37 million."
Finance Director Carolyn Watson supplemented that accounting perspective, saying the county expects another $236,000 from FEMA and has received "over $800,000" from NRCS, with additional NRCS payments of about $300,000 and $163,000 anticipated. Watson said the county is "on step 12 of 22" in the FEMA reimbursement process and urged commissioners to call or email if they had questions about reimbursements or project details.
Umrich and Watson noted that some items have rapid-project status and that when bridge projects such as Poga 1 and Poga 2 go to bid the county can request revisions from FEMA to reconcile rapid project estimates with obligated and actual costs.
The report included a summary of invoices, pay applications and anticipated reimbursement sources in the meeting packet. Commissioners subsequently approved multiple budget and bond amendments tied to Helene recovery funding.
What happens next: county staff will continue to process FEMA and NRCS reimbursement requests, pursue available state aid, and administer bond-funded projects subject to procurement rules and federal/state reporting requirements.