SCOTT COUNTY HOPES FOR FLOOD DISASTER ASSISTANCE

BENTON - Scott County Presiding Commissioner Durward Dover says he is still hopeful that the Federal Emergency Management Agency will determine that his county qualifies for disaster public assistance.

A representative from FEMA has visited the county three times so far, including on Monday, in an attempt to assess flood damages in Scott County. He will return again on Friday to tour a six-mile section of road east of Commerce that runs toward Big Island.

The water has gone down enough in most places for FEMA's representatives to make an assessment; however, on Monday the county road was not passable.

"He will be back here Friday morning, and we'll take a look at that stretch of road if we have to ride a caterpillar or a road grader to do it," said Dover.

"He is working with us as much as possible to see that we qualify, but so far he cannot find enough damage."

Dover explained that FEMA's guidelines have a complicated formula for determining whether a county qualifies for federal assistance to repair damages to public entities. Scott County has already met FEMA guidelines so that private property owners can receive aid.

"The FEMA representative said he was having difficulty finding enough damage in Scott County to be eligible for public aid," said Dover. "In comparison to other counties, our damage might be minimal, but to us it is considerable.

"We've done everything we possibly could do. We've done everything at the right time and have contacted all the right people, but we just can't find enough damage."

Unless Scott County meets the guidelines, "we're on our own when it comes to paying for the costs," said Dover.

Besides the county, other entities that have suffered damages include the Illmo Special Road District, the city of Scott City, the city of Commerce, and the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority.

If the county were declared eligible for public assistance, the federal government would pay 75 or 90 percent of the damages, depending on the qualification formula.

Dover has also been in contact with state Sen. Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, who represents the county, and the three state representatives that have part of Scott County in their districts: Reps. Gene Copeland, D-New Madrid, Dennis Ziegenhorn, D-Sikeston, and Marilyn Williams, D-Dudley.

"They are all doing what they can, but the numbers are the deciding thing. Either we've got it or we don't," said Dover. "The main thing is that we show them all the damages that we have."

At this point, Dover said he is unsure what the total costs would be for the various entities without federal assistance, But, he said, "To say it would be a fairly big hit is an accurate statement."