FEMA Tours Dallas County For Flood Damage
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GARLAND (CBSDFW.COM) - Survey teams from FEMA and the state came to Dallas County Friday to assess damage in hard-hit flood areas. They want to see if the county can qualify as a federal disaster area. "We're trying to show a threshold that will get federal aid for residences and businesses," said County Judge Clay Jenkins.
The FEMA teams toured Garland, Irving, Carrollton, Grand Prairie, Mesquite, Farmers Branch and Coppell, looking at homes and businesses.
One of the areas hardest hit was along Duck Creek in Garland. "I'll probably lose $100,000 out of this deal," said resident and council member Billy Mack Williams, who along with his wife had to flee to their attic to escape the water. He was among the first to talk about the flood with FEMA and state officials today. "I don't know that they could do to make it better, I don't know that," he said.
He has FEMA flood insurance but was warned it won't totally cover his loss. "I was told by the adjuster that I'm maxed out. In other words, I have more stuff than what I had insurance for. And I bought all the insurance I could buy."
The governor and county judge have already declared Dallas County a disaster area. Now they need to convince FEMA to tell the President to do it as well, freeing up federal disaster relief grants and low-interest loans.
"I know a majority of the people on our street have flood insurance, but we do not," Yianna Farley told CBS 11 News immediately after speaking to the FEMA team. Farley has set up a Gofundme account to help repair her dad's house but not much has come in. It's the kind of home that could use FEMA help.
According to Judge Jenkins, FEMA requires a minimum of 25-significantly damaged homes.... and got nearly that many along Duck Creek in Garland alone.
They're also assessing damage to businesses, like the neighboring Elks Club #1984, which was forced to strip its insides down to the framing, according to board member Tom Talbert. "Any monetary donations that FEMA could provide to us to get our lodge back up and running."
If the presidential declaration is made, FEMA will use a complicated formula to calculate what money might be available to residents or businesses. The nationwide maximum for a home is less than 33-thousand dollars.
On Monday the FEMA tours will concentrate on infrastructure: golf courses, parks, and roads. That loss threshold is not a moving target: 8-point-4 million dollars will qualify.
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