County EMA says governor approved disaster declaration; FEMA public-assistance submission due in days

Union County Emergency Management reported that the governor has approved the county's disaster declaration and the application has been forwarded for a possible presidential declaration. Mr. Franklin, representing the county EMA, said the county's primary damage is to roads and bridges and that the county is preparing a public-assistance submission to FEMA. "Our main damage is through the public assistance which is the county highway repairing the roads and the bridges," he said.

Mr. Franklin told commissioners the county has preliminary estimates of roughly $70,000 in recoverable damage and that FEMA sets a separate per-jurisdiction threshold for public assistance. He summarized the numeric thresholds discussed with state and federal staff: the county is above the state threshold and, as reported at the meeting, FEMA's threshold was stated as $34,442.87. He emphasized the submission timeline discussed with FEMA: the county received guidance during a recent meeting and must submit required documentation within a five-day window for the preliminary application. The EMA representative said bridge inspections (including underwater inspection of Brownsboro bridge) and debris collection may increase the total that will be submitted.

The update also described coordination with county highway staff and law enforcement for reimbursable work, such as traffic control and deputy mileage. Commissioners asked for photo documentation and detailed line-item costs (gravel, hauling, truck hours, operator overtime) that FEMA requires; EMA staff said they will upload photos and cost spreadsheets once FEMA provides the upload link. The EMA briefing closed with staff agreeing to continue gathering inspection reports and submitting supplemental claims as additional damage is confirmed.