KAUFMAN COUNTY, Texas — Kaufman County officials are seeking federal funding to assist in nearly $13 million in weather-related damages — including several washed out roads and a bridge failure and closure.
KAUFMAN COUNTY, Texas — Kaufman County officials are seeking federal funding to assist in nearly $13 million in weather-related damages — including several washed out roads and a bridge failure and closure.
Kaufman County Judge Bruce Wood issued a disaster declaration in late December for a series of weather related events —including heavy rain and flooding— which caused nearly $13 million in damages, according to Kaufman County Office of Emergency Management Coordinator Steve Howie.
County officials have been in contact with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials to survey the damage submitted by the county in a disaster summary outline.
FEMA will do a preliminary damage assessment to determine if the county surpasses a total damage threshold which will qualify the county to be included in a statewide disaster declaration in requesting federal funding.
Kaufman County Precinct 4 Commissioner Jakie Allen told inForney.com the heavy rain and flooding in late December contributed to a bridge failure on County Road 4116 — southeast of Crandall, Texas.
Allen says the bridge will remain closed until repairs can be made. County officials will meet with FEMA officials and an engineer later this week to determine a course of action to repair the bridge.
County officials were also concerned about a bridge over Caney Creek on Bar 10 Lane in eastern Kaufman County and a bridge on Hickory Tree Lane. Both bridges were determined to be safe but will likely need repairs in the future.
Several other county roads received damage or were washed out, according to Howie. Those roads have since been repaired and opened.
If approved for federal funding, FEMA could assist in providing funding for up to 75 percent of the repair costs.
