FEMA downgrades western UP damage claims

By P.J. GLISSON

news@yourdailyglobe.com

In the wake of two spring snowstorms and a seasonal snow count unmet since the turn of the century, six counties in the western Upper Peninsula calculated more than $30 million in combined damages from rising waters that occurred from quickly melting snow.

However, recent visitors from the Federal Emergency Management Agency concluded that — by their formulas — the damage actually amounted to little more than $8 million.

The possible result is that the region then will not meet the $17.8 million threshold in damages that is required to qualify for FEMA relief.

Local and state officials shared their responses with The Globe on Monday and Tuesday.

“We didn’t even meet half of the financial threshold,” said Heidi DeRosso, coordinator of Gogebic County Emergency Services/911. “I don’t agree with their ruling.”

“They haven’t officially denied us,” said Lt. Steve Derusha, 8th District Coordinator of the Michigan State Police’s Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division.

However, he added, “Their totals just came in less than ours. FEMA guidelines wouldn’t let them recognize the full extent of damage.”

“It’s very disheartening,” said Wakefield City Manager Robert Brown Jr.

Brown, who received the bad news at the end of last week, said that local calculations were assessed and compiled by experts. “All our numbers were put together by an engineering firm.”

The five other counties that joined forces with Gogebic to seek FEMA aid were Ontonagon, Houghton, Baraga, Marquette and Iron.

According to DeRosso, FEMA’s justification for the reduction in damage value related to codes and standards, prior road conditions and lack of maintenance records.

Brown said that $11 million alone was lost from the local damage calculations because FEMA does not recognize the added cost of remediation that must be done in accordance with current higher standards of the state’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.

In contrast, FEMA officials who visited here on May 22 explained that their guidelines require that remediation costs must be limited to restoring the targeted site to its condition just before the damage occurred.

This means that the extra cost of meeting modern EGLE standards — which are, in fact, now required to obtain needed permits — cannot be acknowledged when requesting FEMA aid.

DeRosso added that FEMA also noted that the region’s federal road damage could not be included within damage costs because those roads are eligible for relief via other governmental avenues.

Regarding the cost of Gogebic County’s damage alone this spring, she estimated the entirety at “around $19 million,” as assessed by local engineers.

Derusha said that the state has not yet submitted its application to FEMA and cannot do so until FEMA forwards its own official results to the state.

Regarding when Michigan will receive the needed details, he said, “I would think within the next week or two.”

“Were still going to move forward,” said Derusha of the application process, which has been spearheaded by MSP’s EM HSD.

He added that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will make the ultimate decision to submit this region’s application to FEMA.

Since the official FEMA determination will not be made until after the state application is submitted, DeRosso still voiced one point of optimism: “We’re one of the poorest counties in the state.”

She believes that might help in securing some level of federal sympathy.

Moreover, said Derusha of the application, “If denied, we will appeal.”

Meanwhile, DeRosso said that addressing the area’s substantial damages will be challenging.

Brown warned that the public should know: “Road repairs will be slow.”