Wednesday, March 09, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

FEMA limits aid to public property

Homeowners affected by January flood not eligible for assistance

January flood damage in Mesquite, Overton and Caliente was severe enough for the federal government to come in and help local governments pay to fix the roads, but it wasn't bad enough to help homeowners fix their houses, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said Tuesday.

"You can have some heart-wrenching damage in one community, but when the entire county comes into play, it's not sufficient enough to warrant federal assistance," agency spokesman James Shebl said.

Heavy rains and melting snow led to flooding in the rural communities in mid-January. Scores of homes were damaged, roadways were washed away and riverbeds were littered with debris. No one was seriously injured.

Gov. Kenny Guinn requested the presidential disaster declaration, hoping FEMA would fund part of the cost of fixing public property and help homeowners fix their houses.

But the declaration that came down on Tuesday only covers public property, not private property.

Shebl explained that the laws FEMA operates under say the agency must consider the county as a whole when determining if damage is significant enough to warrant assistance to homeowners.

"I'm just so sorry this happened," said Michele McNeil-Candee with the state Division of Emergency Management.

She said the governor is requesting help for homeowners from other federal agencies. Shebl said he would probably have an announcement on that front soon.

"We are a management agency," he said. "We can work with other agencies to see what they can bring to the table as well."

The declaration clears the way for FEMA to pay 75 percent of the cost of approved repairs to public facilities, such as roads, bridges and the clearing of riverbeds.

Jim O'Brien, the head of Clark County's Office of Emergency Management, said it was still unclear what the county's priorities will be in requesting FEMA aid.

Damage to public property in the flooding was estimated at $9.4 million in Lincoln County and $4.5 million in Clark County, according to preliminary estimates made by FEMA in the days after the flood.

Officials from FEMA will meet with state and local officials soon to discuss how the process works, federal, state and local officials said.

It will probably be a long process, they said. O'Brien pointed out that the county just a few months ago "closed the books" on the 1999 floods that destroyed part of a trailer park on Boulder Highway.

Even if more federal money can't be found for homeowners, there is some good news. The Small Business Administration last week declared the counties disaster areas, making business owners, homeowners and renters eligible for low-interest loans to repair damage or replace lost property.

Disaster loans of up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace destroyed property, the SBA said. Homeowners and renters can borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.

Businesses and nonprofit groups can borrow up to $1.5 million.

SBA loan officers are scheduled to be on hand at Mesquite City Hall on Tuesdays and Fridays through April 1.