HARBOR SPRINGS — Federal funding is starting to trickle into Northern Michigan communities following the ice storm that hit the region in late March.
During the Harbor Springs City Council meeting on Monday, Aug. 18, city manager Victor Sinadinoski said that staff have been working with representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to complete the request for federal funding for storm damage costs.
Sinadinoski said a request for funding to help mitigate the cost of repairing public utilities was denied by the federal government, but the repairs necessary to get the power back on were considered to be “emergency time,” allowing the city to earn reimbursements for the work.
Harbor Springs operates its own utility services, stretching beyond city lines. The city’s restoration efforts were reliant on another company’s transmission line that goes into the city’s substation, which operates through a 138-kV line in Gaylord.
According to the report, the city can receive regular and overtime reimbursement for debris removal, as well as overtime reimbursement for emergency work, including shelter and power restoration.
Sinadinoski added that the city could also potentially get approved for reimbursement for staff time and fees related to putting together and collecting the information for FEMA.
The city could be eligible for up to $400,000 in reimbursement, if approved. During a council meeting in May, Sinadinoski said the city’s cost estimates from the ice storm were around $500,000.
FEMA funding usually covers 75% of costs associated with storm recovery, while the municipality would be responsible for the other 25%. Sinadinoski said volunteer hours could count for the city’s match.
(This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.)
— Contact reporter Karly Graham at kgraham@petoskeynews.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @KarlyGrahamJrn.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: FEMA funding for ice storm damage inches closer for Northern Michigan communities
Reporting by Karly Graham, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
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