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Date Published: February 14, 2004
Clarendon damage could be $2.5M
Sumter officials plan to hire contractors for storm cleanup efforts
By SHARRON HALEY
Item Staff Writer
shaley@theitem.com
MANNING – The January ice storm could cost Clarendon County as much as $2.5 million, officials say.
A team from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Region IV conducted a preliminary assessment in Clarendon County on Feb. 2 to determine the extent of the damage caused by the Jan. 26 ice storm. The FEMA team canvassed the ravaged sections of the county with representatives from the county, the various municipalities, the three school districts and Anthony Mack, the county’s director of Emergency Management Services, before coming up with an estimated $2.5 million.
State officials were in Sumter on Friday assessing claims of storm damage from homeowners and business people to determine regional eligibility for assistance from the Small Business Administration.
Sumter County Director of Public Safety Vic Jones said he’s received calls from 38 people about damage to their businesses. Many of the calls, however, didn’t meet the criteria the SBA uses to allocate funds.
Jones said many of those who contacted him were insured against damage and don’t qualify for aid.
“It has to be at least 40 percent damage to the business,” Jones said. “A lot of what we got was about lost revenue.”
Sumter city officials, citing its equipment as being incapable of removing the amount of debris on the streets, said they are moving forward with a plan to hire private contractors. This is a similar plan that was used during Hurricane Hugo in 1989. The city has been working with FEMA to cover some of the cleanup costs, estimated at more than $500,000.
A contractor has been selected, and with approval by city council on Tuesday, could be ready to begin work as early as Wednesday.
The initial sweep of the city is expected to take up to three weeks. The city’s equipment will continue to pick up the bagged leaves and other yard debris that is routine. Wood debris should be separated and brought to the street side.
Based on reports from Clarendon County and 16 other counties in the Midlands and Pee Dee, the governor’s office has estimated damage at more than $20 million statewide. With FEMA’s damage estimates in hand, Gov. Mark Sanford requested on Feb. 6 that President Bush declare 17 counties in South Carolina a major disaster area.
“We are anxiously awaiting word as to whether the disaster will be declared as a federal disaster,” Mack said. “If the disaster is federally declared, funds could be made available from FEMA to aid in debris removal by local governments from public property.”
Clarendon County officials are continuing to take information from homeowners and business owners relating to damage caused by the ice storm.
“Individuals or businesses who have incurred uninsured losses of 40 percent or more of the estimated fair value of their homes or businesses should contact my office at 435-9310,” Mack said.
Even though clean-up efforts throughout the county have already begun, county officials aren’t expecting a decision from President Bush until sometime next week.
Contact Staff Writer Sharron Haley at shaley@theitem.com or 803-435-8511.
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March 24, 2004
