Fema Official Assigned To Fix Milo Mess Kellogg Gets Full-Time Help To Solve Creek’s Flooding; Bonner County May Not Be Eligible For Some Funds

Kellogg’s calls for help have been heard.

Last week, President Clinton declared Idaho’s five northern counties disaster areas, freeing up federal funds for repairs.

This week, the Federal Emergency Management Agency assigned one man to Kellogg full time to help solve its Milo Creek mess this summer.

On May 15, the undergound culverts that route Milo Creek to the South Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River became plugged with debris.

Since then, the creek has flowed above ground through city streets. Making matters worse, the creek is washing through a tailings dump upstream of Wardner and is contaminated with acidic mine water.

“I won’t deal in false expectations,” said Pete Wuerpel of FEMA, who flew in from Alaska solely to assist the city. “But I’m persuaded the will is there to get it done.”

Wuerpel was among a number of state and federal disaster officials who met with county officials Thursday to discuss the latest disaster response.

An estimated $2.3 million of flood damage in the Panhandle since March 14 was the basis of the disaster declaration for the five northern counties.

About $370,000 of that is Kootenai County’s estimate for how much it will cost to clean up flood debris on the lakeshores. FEMA is now in southern Idaho, assessing flood damage there.

The head of the FEMA team, Bob Freitag, explained that the process would be different for this disaster than for the ice storm and snow damage, or last year’s flood.

First, no money is available for individual assistance.

Those people who cannot inhabit their homes because of flood damage will be referred to the American Red Cross for assistance.

Secondly, instead of FEMA inspecting every single damage claim, the federal agency will rely on the individual counties to assess damage and come up with a repair cost for small damages - those that are less than $46,000.

“This disaster is the first effort to see how it works,” said Dick Call, public assistance coordinator for FEMA. “We’ll crank it through the process and get a check coming to the state very quickly.”

Under the public assistance program, FEMA will pay for 75 percent of damages to public infrastructure - such as roads and bridges, and 75 percent of flood fighting costs. The state will pick up the other 25 percent.

Matching federal funds also will be available for competitive grants for long-term improvements that could prevent future flood damage. The amount available will be 15 percent of the final cost estimate of damages.

Bonner County might not be eligible for those funds, however, since the commissioners there eliminated the building department.

Among the requirements to get the grants is county enforcement of building codes.

“They have to show they have an active building program,” said Pat Frischmuth of the Idaho Bureau of the Disaster Services. “And they have to show that they can enforce the building code.”

Kellogg may be eligible for the grants, but Wuerpel said he plans on seeking funding from a variety of sources - including the Environmental Protection Agency, which is involved in the Bunker Hill Superfund cleanup in Kellogg.

“I don’t leave anyone out,” he said. Wuerpel said he’s given himself a 100-day window to fix the immediate problem with Milo Creek, and that fix will be part of a long-term solution.

Kellogg Public Works Director Jamie Sharp said the city was grateful for the help.

“We realize a good thing when we see it,” he said, shaking Wuerpel’s hand warmly.

, DataTimes