Delaware to get federal help with snow removal costs

Delaware will get some federal help to pay for the costs that came with responding to February’s snowstorms.

Delaware will get some federal help to pay for the costs that came with responding to February’s snowstorms.

The back-to-back snowstorms between February 5 and February 15  made many Delaware roads impassable, and far surpassed the state funds allotted for storm damage response.  A preliminary look at the total cost to state and local governments found at least $8.8 million in costs, with $6.7 million for snow removal alone.

President Barack Obama issued a major disaster declaration for the state which triggers the release of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds.  Once applications are approved, 75% of the eligible costs for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged could be covered.

“When these storms hit, state and local governments, with limited resources, answered the call to help clear the roads and provide emergency response, all at a significant cost,” said Governor Jack Markell.  “So I am very pleased the federal government is awarding these funds to help defray those expenses and I appreciate our Congressional Delegation’s assistance in that regard.”

The declaration allows Delaware to apply for FEMA Public Assistance funding which is available to the state, local governments and certain nonprofit organizations for emergency work and for the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities.  The state and all three counties are designated as eligible applicants in the disaster declaration.

However, individual Delawareans don’t qualify for FEMA Individual Assistance since those total damages did not meet the federal requirement.