Washington County to determine use of flood funds

ST. GEORGE — Washington County will help funnel federal and state disaster assistance dollars to southern Utah's flooded communities, it was determined Monday as rainy weather heightened concerns of more flooding.

"Everything goes through the county," Washington County Commissioner Jim Eardley said after attending an applicants' briefing hosted by the state's Department of Public Safety. "We've got outstanding county employees that are stretched thin. We've got a lot on our hands."

Among the applicants for federal and state disaster assistance are the cities of St. George and Santa Clara, where the majority of last month's flash-flood damage occurred.

A $25 million state loan is now available to help repair some of the damage done to public infrastructure. The county passed a resolution at noon Monday that paves the way for that money to be released, Eardley said.

"The thing that comes through to us most clearly is that we've got to make sure we account for this money. We must keep very careful records, and we have to be cautious in how we use it," he said.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is already on the ground with teams assigned has assigned officials to help identify which public projects qualify for federal disaster aid.

"We are hoping we get everyone in the fold. We want a coordinated effort, without duplication," said Justin DeMello, FEMA's coordinating officer assigned to St. George for the next few weeks.

Much of that initial work was completed during Monday's meeting as contact people from each city, county and federal agency were appointed to work as a team. Requests for federal disaster assistance will be accepted until March 4.

"We need to identify which jobs each agency can do and then match them up with the right project," DeMello said. "That's not to say there's a perfect fit. But we want to identify any gaps and then see if we can't find a way to fill those unmet needs. At the end of the day, it's our goal to put together a tight-fitting puzzle."

At the top of Washington County's priority list is to remove removing tons of debris now clogging the Virgin and Santa Clara rivers, said Eardley.

"This rain makes things difficult, though. We need it to dry out a little bit and have the water go down," he said. "We can't move equipment in and out of there if it's that wet."

The rainy weather should also remind homeowners living within several hundred feet of the two rivers to get serious about buying flood insurance, said St. George spokesman Marc Mortensen.