The county is eligible for FEMA reimbursement

Two weeks after Hurricane Matthew barreled through the southeast, Chatham County officials have an estimate for how much clean up is going to cost. "We estimated the cost of clean up that could run we expect just debris removal to be 10 million dollars or more," said Chairman Al Scott. The "more" ended up being a 15.7 million dollar budget item commissioners passed Friday. But taxpayers won’t be on the hook for the whole bill. "It’s fortunate that we have all the pieces in place in which to qualify for FEMA and state matching funds," said Scott. According to the county finance director, the county is eligible for FEMA reimbursements and state matching funds. The FEMA assistance is expected to cover 75 percent of the county’s costs, which is about 11.75 million. State matching funds would cover another 12.5 percent. Which leaves the county’s share at just under $2 million. The county spent just over $1 million on Tropical Storm Hermine, and Scott says it’s a relief to know they’ll only double that number this time, for damage that was much more extensive. "And you can imagine, you’ve got 11 times the debris you had with Hermine, so we’re fortunate to have that declaration." The county costs only include unincorporated Chatham County and Pooler. The City of Savannah will handle it’s own FEMA reimbursements.

Two weeks after Hurricane Matthew barreled through the southeast, Chatham County officials have an estimate for how much clean up is going to cost.

"We estimated the cost of clean up that could run we expect just debris removal to be 10 million dollars or more," said Chairman Al Scott.


The "more" ended up being a 15.7 million dollar budget item commissioners passed Friday.

But taxpayers won’t be on the hook for the whole bill.

"It’s fortunate that we have all the pieces in place in which to qualify for FEMA and state matching funds," said Scott.

According to the county finance director, the county is eligible for FEMA reimbursements and state matching funds.

The FEMA assistance is expected to cover 75 percent of the county’s costs, which is about 11.75 million.

State matching funds would cover another 12.5 percent.

Which leaves the county’s share at just under $2 million.

The county spent just over $1 million on Tropical Storm Hermine, and Scott says it’s a relief to know they’ll only double that number this time, for damage that was much more extensive.

"And you can imagine, you’ve got 11 times the debris you had with Hermine, so we’re fortunate to have that declaration."

The county costs only include unincorporated Chatham County and Pooler. The City of Savannah will handle it’s own FEMA reimbursements.