Agenda - 04-15-2014 - 6i - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: April 15, 2014 Action Agenda Item No. 6-i SUBJECT: Agreement with the State for Federal Assistance DEPARTMENT: Emergency Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No Financial Services ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: State —Applicant Disaster Assistance Jim Groves, 919-245-6140 Agreement Shari Porterfield, 919-245-2456 Clarence Grier, 919-245-2453 Josh Hollingsworth, 919-245-6138 PURPOSE: To approve an agreement with the State of North Carolina for assistance related to the recovery from the March 6-7, 2014 Severe Winter Weather incident. BACKGROUND: On March 6 and March 7, 2014, Orange County was greatly impacted by freezing rain, sleet, and snow that occurred in the overnight, early morning, and daytime hours. Because of the winter weather, the Orange County Emergency Operations Center was activated, which required staffing by County personnel and partnering agencies. Along with emergency protective measures that were taken by the County, numerous trees succumbed to the weight of ice from the freezing rain, and numerous trees fell in portions of the County, generating a significant amount of debris. Removal of this debris has been ongoing since the incident, and this has required a number of resources both from the County and the State of North Carolina. Orange County is currently handling debris collection at sites located within the County. Following the winter weather incident, a request was made to the State to conduct a damage assessment to assess if assistance could be provided. Upon conducting the assessment in Orange County, as well as a number or surrounding counties, the State then requested assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). On March 20, 2014 FEMA representatives met with Orange County and partnering agencies within the County to gather preliminary storm damage data. Following this meeting and meetings with other affected counties, it was determined that the State would meet the threshold to receive assistance from the federal government. The request for assistance was made by Governor Pat McCrory on March 25t". On March 31, 2014 Orange County, along with eight other counties, became federally declared disaster areas due to the ice storm (Disaster Number- FEMA-4176-DR-NC). This declaration has granted the nine counties eligible to receive funding from FEMA's Public Assistance program.