HOWELL – Municipal officials have been notified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that Howell is not eligible for assistance following a severe rain storm that damaged areas of the community’s Ramtown section.
On Aug. 13, emergency services personnel responded to more than 50 incidents during a six-hour period as a severe rain storm flooded and damaged areas of Howell. Officials said 7 inches of rain fell in a two-hour period.
Ramtown was particularly hard hit and the basement at the Howell Police Department headquarters on Old Tavern Road was under water. Bridges and roads also sustained damage as a result of the powerful storm.
During a Sept. 4 meeting of the Township Council, residents who had been impacted by the storm asked officials for additional and continued assistance.
Council members passed a resolution waiving local construction permit fees for residents who have to make repairs to their home. Officials said the state has indicated it would waive certain permit fees.
On Oct. 9, Township Manager Brian Geoghegan announced that FEMA would not offer any assistance in the wake of the Aug. 13 storm.
“With all of the critical weather incidents going on around the country I guess they have to conserve resources as well. They decided our damage did not rise to the level of needing their assistance,” Geoghegan said.
He said officials are still waiting to hear if FEMA will offer affected residents SBA disaster loans; low interest loans to help them recover from the damage their homes and property sustained.