State agency holds briefings for ice storm reimbursement

JEFFERSON CITY -- The State Emergency Management Agency will conduct 10 public assistance briefings for officials in the 20 counties that were declared for public assistance on Feb. 17. Officials from those counties, including the cities, special districts, and certain not-for-profit organizations within those counties should also attend. This disaster declaration for public assistance is a result of the Jan. 26-28 winter storm.

The public assistance declaration reimburses county, local governments, special districts and certain not-for-profit organizations for their emergency protective measures, debris removal, and repair and replacement of damaged critical infrastructure. Public officials must file a request for public assistance with SEMA by March 19 (30 days from the public assistance disaster declaration) to be eligible to be reimbursed for disaster expenses.

The 20 counties approved for all categories of federal public assistance are: Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Dunklin, Howell, Madison, Mississippi, New Madrid, Oregon, Ozark, Pemiscot, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, Stoddard, Stone, Taney, and Wayne.

Because of the recent FEMA public assistance program changes, all potential applicants (city, county, specials districts and certain not-for-profit officials) are encouraged to attend one of the following briefings and sign the required documents: at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Mill Street Community Building in New Madrid or 8:30 a.m. Thursday at the Clinton Building in Sikeston.