FEMA has been in Jackson County since Monday doing damage assessment from the March flood.
According to the state of Tennessee, Jackson County has over $3.9 million in reported damages. Highway Superintendent Preacher Anderson said the county cannot do any work right now that could impact a running stream.
“FEMA advised me yesterday and again today, ‘do not start any work unless you have the proper permits,” Anderson said. “Because they will not pay if it’s not permitted and legal and through all the channels.”
Anderson said that at this point it how much money it will take to fix all the roads. However, he said FEMA expects to have damage data collected by April 27 and submit it to the President. Anderson said the state threshold for damages is $16 million and FEMA does believe state damages exceed $16 million.
“Theres damage all over the county but Free State, Big Bottom and Roaring River and Spring Creek and Blackmans Fork are some of the hardest hit areas,” Anderson said.
He said there are permits needed from ARAP, TDEC and the Army Corps of Engineers to do some of the repairs. However, Anderson said that road crews are working to do any repairs they are permitted to undertake.
“We can’t start repairing any of the slides until we get the proper permits,” Anderson said. “What we’re doing in the roadway, the sub-base and stuff we can go ahead and continue with that and that’s what we’re doing. We’re installing pipe and cleaning ditches and mudslides, we can do that.”
Anderson said that when it comes to the impact on roads, the March flood has done more damage than the flood in 2010.
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