Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Disaster Recovery topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Officials outline FEMA, SBA and reimbursements after county storm response
Summary
County staff reported roughly $1.2–$1.3 million in immediate storm-response costs across highway and solid waste operations and told commissioners federal and state reimbursements (FEMA, SBA) are expected but may take 18–24 months or longer.
County officials briefed commissioners on storm-related costs and recovery assistance during the April 21 budget meeting, describing immediate expenditures and the federal and state reimbursement process.
Highway and solid waste staff reported substantial operational expenses for debris removal and emergency cleanup: Eddie estimated his department spent about $725,000 (budgeted $800,000), while Mac reported around $500,000 so far, with more bills still outstanding. Commissioners noted that overtime, fuel and equipment use also factor into total reimbursable costs and could push gross outlays closer to $2 million across departments.
Federal and state reimbursement expectations Todd, who addressed reimbursement logistics, said federal assistance typically covers about 75% of eligible expenses and the state about 12.5%; the state sometimes provides 50% up front in major incidents. He warned that reimbursements can be slow: “that'll be at least a year and a half, two years,” he said, noting the county must wait for federal eligibility determinations and that federal shutdowns can further delay payments.
Small Business Administration and individual assistance Officials said the Small Business Administration will deploy mobile registration for impacted residents and small businesses, followed by a Disaster Recovery Center where people can provide receipts and meet one-on-one with representatives to assess loan or grant eligibility. Staff emphasized that SBA programs can include low-interest loans and that FEMA individual assistance typically requires applicants to start with an SBA loan application.
What residents and small businesses should expect Staff said they are working to host SBA and FEMA staff at coordinated locations to reduce confusion and make registration easier. Commissioners and staff urged the county to publicize dates and locations once schedules are firm.
Sources: direct statements by Eddie (highway), Mac (solid waste), and Todd (reimbursement/SBA/FEMA) during the April 21 Williamson County budget meeting.
