City to receive FEMA funds

March 29--As residents prepare to vote May 6 to allow a city to use a portion of the half-cent sales tax, the city has been notified by FEMA it will receive $309,808 for reimbursements for damage caused by the April 30 flood.

The total amount FEMA and the city agreed upon for reimbursable flood damages was $406,581. FEMA pays approximately 75 percent of that amount.

There are circumstances where the reimbursement goes up to 85 percent, like debris removal. FEMA has informed the city it is due to receive $309,808 when FEMA and the Texas Department of Emergency Management release the funds.

The reimbursed money can only be used for what the funds are for, whether that be streets, buildings or some other city-owned property, according to FEMA.

"What I can tell you is, the money we are due to receive from FEMA is reimbursement for damages the city sustained during the April 30 flood," city spokesman Nate Smith wrote in a statement to the Herald-Press. "Both FEMA and TDEM came and reviewed our documentation, damages and repairs before the agreements were signed."

Emergency Management Coordinator Scott Parkhurst at Monday's Palestine City Council work session said the city submitted about 25 projects to FEMA for about $407,000.

Even though the deadline has passed, the city hopes to receive a one-year extension for reimbursements for sewer lines and culvert roads for another $124,000.

The city council budgeted $250,000 on what it thought it would be getting back from FEMA, and this reimbursement money would replenish this line item.

Nate Smith said it was yet to be determined what the city would do with the other $59,000.

Councilman Doug Smith wanted to know when the city would be receiving the money.

FEMA has already given its share to the state of Texas, and the city is waiting to get its money from the state.

In some instances, the city was able to double dip by having the same project funded by both its insurance and FEMA reimbursements, said Public Works Director Tim Perry. He assured the council that this is allowed.

"We hit it for everything we could," Perry said.

Councilman Joseph Thompson wanted to know what the flood cost the city.

"What did we lose?" he asked. "When I look for an update, I look at dollars and cents."

City Manager Mike Alexander told Thompson the city could get fairly close to the cost when looking into it.

"I know it was a crazy, crazy time," Thompson said.

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