White County Recieves FEMA Storm Cleanup Reimbursement

Terry Palmer, W.C. Public Works Dir, County Commissioner Terry Goodger, GEMA Grant Specialist, Martin “Marty” Itzkowitz, W.C. Public Works/EMA Dir. David Murphy and Cami Downey, W.C. EMA Administrative Assistant.

Terry Palmer, W.C. Public Works Dir, County Commissioner Terry Goodger, GEMA Grant Specialist, Martin “Marty” Itzkowitz, W.C. Public Works/EMA Dir. David Murphy and Cami Downey, W.C. EMA Administrative Assistant.

(Cleveland)- White County has received a nice check from the from the Federal Government to help offset to the county’s cost for cleanup following a couple of storms, this past winter. Thursday morning Martin “Marty” Itzkowitz, a grant specialist with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency was in Cleveland to present the county with a check for $68,765.71.

As a result of a presidential disaster deceleration following the storms, the county was able to apply for funds to help with the enormous cost of clearing trees from roadways and right of way.

White County Commissioner Terry Goodger accepted the check on behalf of the county, Goodger said the expedient work by the county’s public work department help the county obtain additional funds, “ our road department went ahead and jumped right on the damage we had during the winter, they got it done in a good order and this helped the county to be eligible for more funds, “ said Goodger.

According to County Emergency Management Agency Director David Murphy, normally the reimbursement is 75 percent of the cost, but they were able to get 85 percent, because of the hard work by the road department and his administrative assistant Cami Downey.

Murphy said this was a monumental task. He said, “ not only cleaning debris and getting it off the roadway and getting it picked up off the right of way, but also in staff time generating the necessary paper work needed to receive this funding from FEMA.”

Commissioner Goodger said, the county’s sound financial position enabled them to go ahead and do the work, and then apply for the reimbursement.

For the latest White County news tune in to WRWH Radio 1350AM Cleveland and visit wrwh.com.