County still seeks federal disaster funds
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According to Warren County Emergency Management Director Richard Myers, an appeal is in the process, asking the government to reconsider its initial rejection of disaster funds from the first damaging flood this January. The federal government denied Warren and surrounding counties disaster relief after Warren County suffered around $150,000 in road damage from the January flood which left 7 inches of precipitation.
However, Myers said the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency is now grouping the January damage with the more recent damage left by flooding last month, in hopes of securing federal disaster assistance dollars. Inspections are now being conducted to determine if Warren County and its region qualify for relief.
The second flood of the year, which struck Warren County last month with nearly 6 inches of rain, left an estimated $201,000 in damages to area roads. Two days of torrential rains caused localized flooding as water levels rose quickly. While residential damage was not as extensive as in the first flood, roads were hit hard.
“The second flood left more damage because the rain came faster and washed out sections of roads and supports on bridges,” Myers said. “There’s a bridge out at Hills Creek which will require a lot of maintenance because of the way it was washed out.”
Myers said the latest round of precipitation, which dumped 3.2 inches of rain on Warren County this weekend, did no apparent additional damage since the rain came in mostly moderate bursts.