GLORIA GAINES: Dougherty County maps plan for storm recovery

In January 2017, two devastating storms hit the city of Albany and Dougherty County only three weeks apart. Five of our citizens lost their lives and massive damaged resulted to public infrastructure and homes throughout the community.

In addition to the deaths, below are some of the damages caused by the storms to homes and businesses:

— Nearly 400 homes completely destroyed;

— Over $21 million spent to restore damaged homes;

— More than $6 million in lost business revenue;

— $300 million in damage to the Marine base;

— Total loss of Coats & Clark’s distribution warehouse;

— Total loss of the Procter & Gamble distribution warehouse;

— Estimated $16 million damage to public facilities.

The Dougherty County Board of Commissioners has adopted a long-term recovery and resiliency plan that seeks to restore our community to a state even stronger and more resilient than before the storms. The plan addresses many of the needs remaining that include housing, economic development and infrastructure. The estimated cost to address the unmet needs identified in the study is $151.5 million.

Some of the project categories identified as goals in the plan include the following:

— Permanent housing for displaced residents;

— Radium Springs neighborhood improvements;

— Tornado siren/giant voice system;

— Fire station repairs;

— Private property debris removal;

— Root ball removal;

— Debris removal in tributaries;

— Generators for critical infrastructure;

— Sandy Bottom Circuit-burying power lines to critical facilities;

— Community safe rooms;

— Downtown redevelopment;

— Trail system development.

Dougherty County and the city of Albany have accessed and are working to access several funding sources to address the identified needs. They include internal operating funds, donations from private sources, state assistance and federal grants. Both are applying for grants through the FEMA Public Assistance Program and FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

I am not under any illusion that these funding sources are readily available. This is especially true given the current national disaster recovery needs resulting from mega storms Harvey and Irma.We also recognize that recovery is indeed long term and that the federal budget is squeezed and could become more so as disasters are predicted to become more plentiful and severe in coming years.

New Orleans is still in a state of recovery after more than a decade. We can even say that our community has yet to fully recover from the great flood of l994. Working together, however, I believe we can and must get it done.

If you would like more information or if you have ideas that you would like to share, please contact me through the county government office.

Gloria Gaines is Dougherty County commissioner for District 5.