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Grant County EMA describes storm damage, FEMA preliminary assessment and next steps
Summary
At the June 20 meeting the county EMA reported it is in step 3 of a six-step disaster-declaration process for June storm damage, that county damages may help a state declaration but the county itself may not qualify for public assistance, and that FEMA representatives are expected to conduct preliminary damage assessments in the coming week or two.
Grant County Emergency Management reported Monday that the county is in step three of a six-step process toward a disaster declaration after the June 11 storm and damage assessments. EMA representative Bob Jackson said county damage reports may help the state meet the damage thresholds required for a state declaration, which is a prerequisite for any presidential (FEMA) declaration and individual assistance.
"For the public assistance would be anything that the county and municipalities have spun out in disaster," Jackson said, describing the two types of assistance (public and individual) and adding, "I'm doubtful at this point that we will qualify... but it does go toward the state amount of damage." He said FEMA has begun its preliminary damage-assessment phase and county officials expect FEMA representatives in the area "probably in the next week or two." The EMA will post instructions for residents on the county Facebook page and urged anyone with uninsured damage to report it.
Jackson also gave a brief update on a substantial fire at a local Walmart distribution center that caused an ammonia leak; he said no injuries were reported and an after-action report will follow this week to capture lessons learned.
Why this matters If the state's aggregated damage meets the statutory threshold, a state declaration can be requested; a presidential declaration is required for FEMA individual-assistance programs. County officials said the preliminary assessments will inform whether residents with uninsured damage might qualify for federal assistance and whether the county or its municipalities will receive public-assistance funding for infrastructure repairs.
What’s next EMA staff will compile damage numbers, participate in a call with state officials, and post guidance for residents. FEMA preliminary assessment teams were described as likely to arrive within days to weeks.
