Judge Dale Freeman this week informed the Quorum Court Members that Lawrence County will receive federal assistance from FEMA to help cover the cost of repairing the county roads damaged in the late April funding.
Judge Freeman was informed late Monday afternoon by the Lawrence County Of Emergency Services that Lawrence was among 11 counties declared a Federal Disaster. Judge Freeman also told the Quorum Court that the road department was working close with the Office of Emergency Services compiling list of the damaged roads and prioritizing the future repairs.
Project managers from FEMA are expected to be in Lawrence County in the next few weeks to begin the process of estimating repairs and approving projects. Judge Freeman stated the road department has done an excellent job making the roads passable but noted more permanent repairs were needed. The Judge also stated several projects included will not only repair the damage but improve some problem areas.
Lawrence County has already been approved for state assistance through ADEM (Arkansas Department of Emergency Management), the added federal funds will reimburse the county at a rate of 87.5 % with the county paying for the 12.5 %.