With only 14 of its 38 municipalities reporting, Bedford County already hit its $177,000 threshold that makes it eligible for federal reimbursement.
“We still have a long way to go and there’s a lot of money out there that still has not been scheduled and sent in,” said Bedford County EMA Director Dave Cubbison. “There’s no question that Bedford County is eligible at this point.”
Bedford County may have hit its cost of storm damage requirement to be reimbursed, but now they have to wait on 29 other counties to report to the state.
“We factor in overtime. We factor in snow plowing. We factor in the supplies needed for snow removal,” Bedford Borough Manager Barbara Diehl said.
Bedford Borough alone spent about $30,000 in storm cleanup. They only had $18,000 put aside in their budget.
“This one event could have wiped out many municipalities total snow plowing and material budget,” Cubbison said.
Last time the county was eligible for storm damage reimbursement, it took about two years to see the money.
“It’s kind of a hurry up and wait,” Cubbison said. “Get your paperwork, your documentation, your numbers all in line. Submit them and then they get processed through the channels that need to be.”
Bedford Borough is looking forward to the much-needed reimbursement.
“Oh it’s very important,” Diehl said. “It’s very important because if we weren’t able to come together to meet that amount that was needed for PEMA for the regulations required… we have to work together as a community.”
The state has to reach $17.9 million in damage costs for all 30 counties to be reimbursed.
“Obviously there’s no guarantees with this whatsoever, but if you don’t do the work, if you don’t submit the paperwork, then you’ll never know if indeed you could reach this, if you could be reimbursed,” Cubbison said.
