Julie Yates
County officials estimate Mayes County sustained $2.3 million in flood damage costs.
Representatives from Federal Emergency Management Agency and Oklahoma Emergency Management met with Mayes County Emergency Management Director Johnny Janzen and other county leaders to discuss preliminary damage assessment. The preliminary estimation was to ensure the county will meet its threshold.
Mayes County had to meet a threshold of $120,000 in damages to be eligible for any federal assistance. The county far exceeded its threshold, with District 3 alone having at least $1 million in damages.
All figures from counties with damage will
collectively go to a state minimum of $4.6 million. FEMA will only give
disaster assistance if the collective estimate reaches $4.6 million.
If the state reaches the disaster minimum, FEMA will reimburse 75 percent of the damage costs. The state will cover 12.5
percent and each county, city or school district that sustained the damage will pay the remaining 12.5 percent.
Chouteau School District and cities with public infrastructure damage will file separately from the county, but the damage estimates will all go toward the state minimum of $4.6 million.
The estimates are only rough preliminary assessments of the damage.
“It could be a lot more, could be a lot less,” said Mike Clow, FEMA project specialist.
Clow estimated the water damage to Chouteau Schools at $750,000.
Chouteau Schools Director of Operations Stan Horn said water was running on the floor of the high school the day of the flood. School personnel were mopping as the water continued to run into the building. The buildings sustained roof damage and Horn said water was coming in from the ceilings, windows and floors.
All buildings on the main campus received damage. Horn said the school facilities in order from the most damaged to the least damaged are the high school, the middle school, the elementary, the gym and the administration building.
The estimate of damages to the City of Pryor is $400,000. The estimate covers $25,000 for emergency protective measures, which include the work and rescues performed by the Pryor Fire and Police Departments.
The Town of Locust Grove has a total estimate of nearly $50,000, including $12,000 for emergency protective measures and $8,000 for public utility damage. Street damage, also included in the total figure, was estimated at $25,000.
Salina’s total preliminary estimate is $80,000.
All cost figures are rough estimates in a preliminary damage assessment and the costs could be more or less than
estimated.
In District 3, floodwaters damaged a bridge on South 447 Road irrepairably. The entire bridge must be replaced. Snake Creek undermined the structure on both ends. Waters cut around the south end of the bridge, causing part of the road to collapse. The structure is located two miles west of the Delaware County line.
Commissioner Melvin Pritchett estimates the bridge will cost over $700,000 to replace.
On 443.8 Road, floodwaters from Lake Hudson poured into Saline Creek and ripped away a box culvert. The swollen creek carried the concrete into a field, leaving a 30-yard gap across the creek.
Clow urged county commissioners to keep all receipts for materials. Man hours, equipment hours and material costs can be reimbursed if records are kept.
“Make sure you have sheets - labor, equipment, material,” Clow said.
Janzen is still taking reports on homes with uninsured flood damage. He can be reached at
825-4650.
