October 11, 2008 10:35 pm
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By Debbie Robinson
news@joplinglobe.com
MIAMI, Okla. — City officials said they have yet to get a definitive answer from the Federal Emergency Management Agency on the release of funds to repair or replace city property damaged by floodwaters in July 2007.
They held a closed-door meeting with FEMA and Oklahoma Emergency Management Agency officials last week to discuss the impasse.
Mayor Brent Brassfield said the city was told by FEMA officials 10 months ago that it would receive $2.2 million for damages caused by the flood, but to date the city has received less than $900,000.
“It was some good news and some bad news,” Brassfield said after the meeting, which he characterized as “intense.”
The good news, he explained, is that Albert Ashwood, director of the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, was charged with reviewing the city’s damage estimates on each project, then recommending a solution to FEMA.
“Ashwood and the city will go back and look at each individual project,” Brassfield said.
Ashwood could not be reached for comment Friday.
Among the properties where a dispute has arisen is the city pool, which sustained $30,000 in damages, including a pump.
“FEMA wouldn’t pay us that, and the insurance company says it won’t pay because it’s below ground,” Brassfield said.
FEMA traditionally covers 75 percent of the damages with the state and city each kicking in 12.5 percent. But Winston Barton, FEMA public affairs officer, previously explained that a problem arose because of FEMA policy, which limits federal funding for cities and counties that have experienced previous flooding problems.
After a first flood, Barton explained, cities and counties are expected to purchase flood insurance on their property. FEMA is still allowed to provide financial aid, but at a reduced amount.
Miami Assistant City Manager Tim Wilson has said FEMA officials informed the city a year ago that they would get the full funding.
He acknowledged that the city had no flood insurance at the time, but he said the city had never needed it before. Although Miami had experienced 20 floods in 21 years, none of those caused significant damage to city property.
“We didn’t receive the damage in the past that we did with this one,” Wilson said last month, referring to the 2007 flood. Damage to parks, the swimming pool, fire station and other city buildings was estimated at more than $6 million.
What’s more, Miami leaders say state and federal officials “signed off” on project work sheets that listed all of the city’s damaged buildings and the cost to repair or replace them.
“They were very apologetic for our being misguided,” Brassfield said. “That doesn’t help us right now.”
City Manager Huey Long, who also attended the meeting, said he feels the city will receive some information in two to three weeks.
The city also recently purchased flood insurance at a cost of about $16,000 annually.
High water
The 2007 flood was one of the worst on record for the city of Miami, Okla. The Neosho River rose 15 feet above flood level, damaging or destroying more than 550 homes and businesses in the city.
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