The Hamilton County Council has approved $2.85 million in emergency funding to support flood recovery efforts across the county, providing immediate assistance for residents and businesses while helping coordinate what officials expect will be a lengthy cleanup process.
The funding package, approved Thursday, includes $100,000 for Hamilton County Emergency Management to address immediate needs in the coming weeks. Those funds can be used for emergency housing, equipment, supplies and other services needed as flood victims begin recovery.
The remaining $2.75 million has been designated for debris removal and management. County officials say the money will allow Hamilton County Emergency Management to work with state and federal agencies to safely collect, sort and dispose of the large amount of debris left behind by the flooding.
“The County Council is ready to provide any necessary funding for flood relief,” County Council President Brad Beaver said in a news release.
County Commissioners President Christine Altman said a coordinated debris removal effort is essential to protecting public safety while maximizing the county’s chances of receiving federal reimbursement.
“This gives us a coordinated way to handle the enormous amount of debris left behind by the flooding while also making sure hazardous materials are properly identified, separated, and disposed of,” Altman said. “That’s important from both a safety and environmental standpoint, but it could also make these expenses eligible for federal reimbursement.”
Hamilton County has asked state and federal officials for additional disaster assistance, including funding through Category A of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Public Assistance Program. That program helps reimburse eligible costs associated with debris removal following a declared disaster.
County officials hope federal assistance will offset a significant portion of the local funds now being committed to cleanup efforts.
Officials also cautioned residents who are considering hiring private contractors to remove flood debris. Those costs may not qualify for reimbursement unless the work complies with environmental regulations and is properly documented and certified.
Hamilton County officials said additional details about debris collection, disposal procedures and available assistance programs will be released as cleanup operations continue.