Boone County to receive FEMA money for spring flood damages

Boone County will receive money from the damages done by late April, early May flooding.

The money has been included in the Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Missouri.

The president’s action makes federal funding available to affected cities that have public infrastructure that was damaged in the floods.

Federal funds are expected to equal 75 percent, while the State of Missouri will contribute an additional 10 percent of the total dollar amount spent locally to recover from damages incurred during this flooding event.

Boone County was determined to meet the per person dollar amount required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) after the completion of a damage assessment in late June.

The damage assessment reflected nearly $750,000 of documented cost associated with flood related damages.

Municipalities and departments eligible for reimbursement include: Boone County (Public Works and Facilities Maintenance), the City of Columbia (Street Division), Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the University of Missouri. Each of these groups will be eligible for reimbursement of up to 85 percent of their cost to mitigate and repair damages.

According to Atwill, had the county not been added to the Presidential Disaster Declaration, all expenses incurred for roadways and bridges in Boone County would have been the exclusive responsibility of Boone County taxpayers, “It further illustrates the importance of the Road and Bridge Tax that will be presented to voters for renewal this year.”

Boone County Emergency Management will continue to work with those affected and with federal agencies to ensure a maximum amount of funds are reimbursed with federal dollars. Boone County was last included in a declaration in 2011.