News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
FEMA is in Overton County Tuesday to validate damages and debris from the February ice storm.
EMA Director Chris Masiongale said FEMA is travelling the county with Livingston Mayor Curtis Hayes and County Executive Ben Danner. Masiongale said the county’s disaster damage threshold was $86,000 but damages are well over $1 million.
“Once the numbers are validated then they’ll go to the Governor’s Office for a decision as to whether or not to take it to the President,” Masiongale said. “And once he decides whether to or not to, the next step would be of course would be for him to request a declaration.”
Masiongale said FEMA met today with all county agency heads and Livingston officials to discuss the numbers sent to TEMA.
Masiongale said that FEMA will only be in Overton County on Tuesday, but will establish a headquarters in Nashville. Overton County needs the disaster declaration to receive 90 percent federal reimbursement for its cleanup efforts.
County Execuitve Ben Danner said he expects a disaster declaration to take roughly month during Monday night’s County Commission meeting. Overton County is estimated to have 55,000 to 60,000 cubic yards of debris.
