Tipp City officials estimated damage to private property there at around $4 million in an initial damage estimate filed a few days after the storm with EMA. Artz said around 500 properties were assessed over the weekend in Tipp City by EMA teams.
The bulk of the public property damage was reported in Tipp City at $18.1 million followed by $250,000 in Troy and less than $25,000 in Covington, Concord Twp. and Monroe Twp. The bulk of Tipp City’s public property damage was to the electric facilities.
On Monday, Tipp City Council approved the emergency purchase, made last week, of parts and materials needed to repair two electric substations damaged in storm.
Council’s vote authorized spending up to $200,000 for the materials.
Christy Butera, city utilities director, said assessment of damage to electric facilities and equipment continues. “We estimate there will be a lot of equipment and material that will have to be scrapped because we won’t be able to use it safely,” she said.
“The power system is stable, and is fine,” Brad Vath, acting city manager, said last week.
Of the $4.3 million in damage estimates for residential and farm properties in other county areas, $2.4 million was in Concord Twp., $1 million in Covington and $744,000 in Monroe Twp.
Artz emphasized the numbers are all estimates. “It would be almost impossible to find all damage across the county,” he said.
The county should hear soon on Gov. John Kasich’s request for a disaster declaration by the Small Business Administration for neighboring Clark County. If that declaration is made, people/small businesses in contiguous counties could apply for low interest SBA loans, Artz said. The contiguous counties would be Miami, Champaign, Greene, Madison and Montgomery.
If the declaration is made, SBA would come to the area and set up application sites. “If the SBA makes its announcement, we will get the word out,” Artz said.
Tipp City Mayor Pat Hale said that from talking with other officials “I don’t see a lot of financial help available (for individuals) though that may change down the road.”
Hale cautioned people to make sure they check into people asking questions and business offering services before giving personal information. The city will continue work on clean up, he said, adding,
“Any time you have something like this happen, it takes time.”
In Clark County, the Emergency Management Agency along with the Ohio EMA and the Small Business Administration last week assessed damage at Laynecrest Manor Apartments and homes along West National Road.
Clark County jurisdictions could also get assistance to help repair roads, Clark County Emergency Management Director Lisa D’Allessandris said.
The storms caused severe flooding at the apartment complex, nine homes and displaced more than 100 area residents in Bethel, German and Mad River townships.
Construction crews are working on repairs at Laynecrest Manor, Biles has said, and it may take four to six months before residents can return.
The apartment complex was built in a swale, or low tract of land, and there will continue to be concerns for flooding, said Bethel Twp. Trustee Nancy Brown.
“I’d hate to see them rehab it and put people back in there. It may be a 200-year flood, but that doesn’t mean it will be 200 years before it happens again,” Brown said.
Contact this reporter at nancykburr@aol.com.
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