Officials: Long, Expensive Road Ahead For Borderland Clean Up
EL PASO, TX. – According to County Judge Dolores Briones, the area’s clean up won’t be a quick or easy thing.
County and city officials updated residents Monday afternoon on the very latest on the clean up efforts. Officials said those efforts could be lengthy and reimbursement may not cover all the damages.
County Judge Brionesadded,”It’s not going to happen tomorrow and it’s not going to be a lot of money.”
While manyBorderland residentsare still cleaning up, drying out and trying to find a place to live, city and county officials continue to compile figures of estimated damages.
Preliminary figures estimate more than $350,000 the county has spent including water pumping efforts in Canutillo, road damage in Westway and overtime and equipment usage by the Sheriff’s Office.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)representatives have been in town since Sunday, assessing the damage and say they should have their report finished up by Tuesday.
FEMA representatives must now wait for the numbers from local agencies for a full package to be sent to the president for approval of a Natural Disaster Declaration. According to FEMA, that approval could take from oneto three months.
Representatives add that the reimbursements forresidents could be anywhere between $2000 and $26,000 maximum.However County Judge Briones was very frank in the fact that any state and federal help provided will be minimal replacement, just to make things livable.
For those residents hit by the flooding, there aretwo agencies that can provide assistance. The County’s Family Assistance Office can be reached at 915-532-8850.
For those residents who are cleaning up their homes,they can place trash and debris on the curb, and then call 915-621-6700 and county workers will pick it up.
