FEMA, state officials began Kenosha County flood damage review
The flood damage assessment process is underway in Kenosha County.
Representatives
of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Small Business
Administration, Wisconsin Emergency Management and Kenosha County
government today began the process of visiting private properties and
public infrastructure that sustained damage from the July 10-12 floods.
Separate
teams were deployed for the individual assistance (private property)
and public assistance (government property/infrastructure) visits. The
teams – which have counterparts in Racine and Walworth counties – are
expected to continue working through the week.
The public
assistance team is assessing damage to roads, parks and other government
property, which was described in great detail in binders that municipal
and county government officials compiled and submitted to Wisconsin
Emergency Management last week. The individual assistance team is
visiting homes that were cataloged as having major damage or having been
destroyed under FEMA guidelines.
“We’re looking at the extent of
damages to homes,” said Cassie Ringsdorf, external affairs officer for
Chicago-based FEMA Region V. “We’re looking at the number of people who
had insurance and who didn’t have insurance, who may not have coverage
for the damage sustained. We’re also looking at the number of people
that were displaced and how long they were displaced.”
In
addition, Ringsdorf said the assessment team taking into consideration
the amount of voluntary agency assistance that’s available in the area,
as it determines whether the community can recover on its own, or if
federal disaster assistance is needed.
After the assessment is
completed, the information will be sent to Gov. Scott Walker, who will
determine whether to request a Presidential disaster declaration.
“If
there is a presidential disaster declaration for individual assistance,
that aid can come in the form of grant funding to repair a home that’s
been damaged by the flooding,” Ringsdorf said. “It can also assist with
people to relocate while their home is being repaired. And it can also
help provide funding to replace some of that personal property that was
lost in their homes.”
If the Small Business Administration makes a
disaster declaration of its own, low-interest loans may also be
available to help businesses and homeowners with flood recovery costs.
Kenosha
County Executive Jim Kreuser said he is pleased to have the federal and
state representatives on the ground, assessing the damage here. Kreuser
declared a state of emergency in the county immediately after nearly 8
inches of rain fell in New Munster on the morning of July 12, swelling
the Fox River to record heights.
“We’re happy to have our FEMA,
SBA and Wisconsin Emergency Management partners here to help us as we
continue to recover from what was a catastrophe for hundreds if not
thousands of residents,” Kreuser said. “Any assistance we can get from
Washington or Madison will be much appreciated.”
Ringsdorf said
there is not a set timeframe for when a Presidential disaster
declaration decision could be made. Homeowners are urged to try to
continue their personal recovery process before a federal decision is
made, documenting damage with photos and keeping receipts for repair
expenses.
“We’re going as quickly as we can to see all of the
damages here in Kenosha County, along with the other teams in the two
additional counties that are being assessed,” Ringsdorf said. “As soon
that information is collected, it goes to the governor’s office and that
request is made, and a decision is made as quickly as possible.”