Flood Price Tag: $5.3 Million

December 22, 2009

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Representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration were in Escambia County, Alabama, Monday surveying the damage from last week’s floods.

Read an update to this story by clicking here.

Their data will be used to determine if President Barack Obama will declare a federal disaster area.

Preliminary dollar figures are in on last week’s flood damage in Escambia County, Alabama. The numbers show damage to public property as follows:

  • Escambia County (Ala.), $3 million
  • City of Atmore, $1.25 million
  • City of Brewton, $400,000
  • Town of Flomaton, $362,000
  • Poarch Creek Indians, $250,000
  • Escambia (Ala.) Sheriff’s Dept., $38,000

flomaton-flooding-019.jpgThe total amount estimated so far is $5.3 million, a little less than the $5.88 million that would be needed for a federal disaster declaration so that FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, can offer assistance. The $5.88 million mark is based upon the county’s population.

Each governmental agency in the county will continue to assess their damage to determine if the county might reach the federal disaster level.

Alabama Gov. Bob Riley, who toured the area last week, has already declared a state of emergency in Escambia and three other Alabama counties. By declaring a state of emergency, the governor authorized the Alabama Emergency Management Agency to assist communities, make the appropriate assessments of damage and seek state and federal assistance for the affected areas.

Pictured above: Flooding last week in Flomaton. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

3 Responses to “Flood Price Tag: $5.3 Million”

  1. northendbratt on December 23rd, 2009 12:43 am

    Has anyone ever heard the tirm “flatmore”? Need I say more? I think that is why the cost is so much more in Atmore ,than Flomaton and Brewton put together. One more thought, I hope everyone is paying attention to where you buy gas for your car. These stations that were flooded would not be the place to fill up!

  2. William on December 22nd, 2009 7:38 am

    The numbers are not out of order from what we were provided. Keep in mind these numbers represent public infrastructure damage (roads, bridges, etc.), not private business and residential losses.

  3. Anna on December 22nd, 2009 7:27 am

    Atmore higher flood damage then Brewton and Flomaton???? Higher flood damage than Brewton and Flomaton put together???? Could the numbers be accidentally out of order in this story?