Agenda Item # 3
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
04/12/2016
Agenda Report #105
TO: Mayor and Council
SUBJECT: FEMA Disaster Assistance
INITIATED BY: Finance Department
Recommendation: Approval is requested to submit an application and if approved,
accept Public Assistance funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) as administered by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) for
reimbursement of disaster response and recovery expenses associated with the
Presidentially declared disaster caused by heavy rains and resulting erosion
and flooding from December 22, 2015 through January 13, 2016, and to amend the
budget by the amount reimbursed. The public assistance funding will range from
75% of eligible expenditures to 100% of eligible expenditures, depending on the
type of expenditure and the time reported. There is no cost to the city other
than those incurred costs that will be reimbursed.
Background: Heavy rains during the period of December 22, 2015 through January
13, 2016 caused severe flooding and erosion in the Chattahoochee Valley area
and resulted in a Presidentially declared disaster for Columbus/Muscogee County
as well as 32 other local counties. As a result of the declaration, Columbus
is eligible for federal reimbursement of expenditures incurred for the response
to and damages caused by this flooding and erosion.
Analysis: Preliminary estimates conclude that the city has incurred and will
incur expenses totaling in excess of a million dollars for debris removal,
emergency services, building and structural repairs, road repairs, dam repairs,
damage to equipment and vehicles, and damages to park facilities. The City has
six months from the date of the disaster (December 22) to report expenditures
incurred for debris removal, six months from the date of the declaration
(February 26) to report expenditures incurred for emergency work, and eighteen
months from the date of the declaration to report expenditures incurred for
permanent work.
Financial Considerations: The public assistance funding will range from 75% of
eligible expenditures to 100% of eligible expenditures, depending on the type
of expenditure and the time reported. There is no cost to the city other than
those incurred costs that will be reimbursed.
Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement: There will be no annual fiscal
impact, as this funding is to restore funds spent for a one-time declared
disaster.
Legal Considerations: The City will have to comply with federal procurement
guidelines for the procurement of contracted services, as well as federal cost
principles, audit requirements, environmental regulations, equal opportunity
legislation, and other regulations required in federal contracting.
Recommendations/ Actions: Approval is requested to submit an application and if
approved, accept Public Assistance funds from the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) as administered by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA)
for reimbursement of disaster response and recovery expenses associated with
the Presidentially declared disaster caused by heavy rains and resulting
erosion and flooding from December 22, 2015 through January 13, 2016, and to
amend the budget by the amount reimbursed. The public assistance funding will
range from 75% of eligible expenditures to 100% of eligible expenditures,
depending on the type of expenditure and the time reported. There is no cost
to the city other than those incurred costs that will be reimbursed.
A RESOLUTION
No. _____
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO APPLY FOR
AND ACCEPT, IF AWARDED, FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT (FEMA) FUNDS ADMINISTERED
THROUGH THE GEORGIA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (GEMA) FOR SUPPLEMENTAL
ASSISTANCE FOR RESPONSE AND RECOVERY COSTS IN A PRESIDENTIALLY DECLARED
DISASTER, AND TO AMEND THE BUDGET FOR THE RECEIPT OF THESE FUNDS, WHICH WILL
REIMBURSE THE CITY FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM HEAVY RAINS AND FLOODING BETWEEN
DECEMBER 22, 2015 AND JANUARY 13, 2016.
WHEREAS, heavy rains experienced by the valley area between December
22, 2015 and January 13, 2016 caused severe flooding and erosion damage to
Columbus and the surrounding area; and,
WHEREAS, as a result of this flooding, Columbus, along with 32 other
local counties, was issued a Presidential Declaration, FEMA-4259-DR-GA, on
February 26, 2016, making the area eligible for public assistance; and,
WHEREAS, preliminary estimates place the cost of damages to the city at
over a million dollars; and,
WHEREAS, these costs include the cost of debris removal, emergency
services, and repairing or replacing equipment, vehicles, buildings, other
structures, roads, parks and dams; and,
WHEREAS, the city will enter into a sub-recipient agreement with GEMA,
which will coordinate reporting activities and pass through FEMA funding.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS
FOLLOWS:
That the City Manager or his designee is hereby authorized to submit an
application for and if awarded, accept reimbursement for expenses incurred in
the response to and recovery from damages incurred as a result of the
presidentially declared disaster of December 22, 2015 through January 13, 2016
due to heavy rains and resultant erosion and flooding, and to amend the budget
by the amount of allowable expenditures reimbursed.
___________
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held
the _________ day of _____________ 2016, and adopted at said meeting by the
affirmative vote of _____________ members of said Council.
Councilor Allen voting __________.
Councilor Baker voting __________.
Councilor Barnes voting __________.
Councilor Davis voting __________.
Councilor Henderson voting __________.
Councilor Huff voting __________.
Councilor Buck voting __________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.
Councilor Thomas voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting __________.
_____________________________ _________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Teresa Pike
Tomlinson, Mayor
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