Damage to English Landing Park Pegged at $220k
Federal and state emergency management officials met Tuesday with city and county officials for a preliminary inspection tour of flood damages to Parkville’s English Landing Park.
Steve Tillman, public assistance officer with the Federal Emergency Management Administration, and Maureen Burke, Area A coordinator with the State Emergency Management Administration, aid to FEMA and SEMA, respectively.
Dan Koch, Parkville’s Public Works director, and Parks superintendent Tom Barnard told the officials that the city’s rough cost estimate of what it would take to restore the park to pre-flood conditions is $220,000.
They and Platte County Sheriff’s Department Capt. Mark Owen who heads the Emergency Services Division, in addition to the obvious damage, pointed out some more subtle effects. These include that the flood had left rock rip-rap that lines the banks of Rush Creek covered with mud. If the mud is not removed promptly, all kinds of vegetation will spring forth causing additional immediate and future problems.
Across the state, officials are working rapidly to compile flood damage information regarding uninsured primary residences and businesses in 18 counties in their efforts to ask for Federal Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance for Missourians and businesses. Assessments were conducted last week and a consolidated report were submitted to Gov. Matt Blunt last week.
Parkville is hoping to receive a Federal Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance which helps reimburse county and local
governments for emergency protective actions, repair to property, and debris removal from public property and roads.
According to FEMA, debris removal is the “clearance, removal, and/or disposal of items such as trees, sand, gravel, building components, wreckage, vehicles, and personal property.” FEMA regulations do not allow for the “removal of debris, such as tree limbs and trunks, from natural (unimproved) wilderness areas; removal of pre-disaster sediment from engineered channels; and removal of debris from a natural channel unless the debris poses an immediate threat of flooding to improved property.”
After a presidential declaration has been made, FEMA will designate the area eligible for assistance and announce the types of assistance available. FEMA provides supplemental assistance for State and local government recovery expenses, and the Federal share will be at least 75 percent of the eligible costs.
Tillman, whose home is just outside of Parkville, said he hopes an application would make a speedy trip through the government channels to the President’s desk.