Flooding damage estimate in Escambia County reaches $20 million
Escambia County officials have tallied at least $20 million in damage to public buildings, roads, bridges and facilities stemming from the weekend’s near-record-breaking rainfall.
And they are still counting.
Calculating the damage from Saturday and Sunday — in which Escambia received more than 20 inches of rain — is a tedious task that Escambia’s government agencies are scrambling to complete this week.
If damage to public facilities or infrastructure reaches a threshold of $25 million, Escambia County will be eligible for help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The assessment only takes into account damage to public structures, including roads, bridges and public buildings, not damage done to personal property such as homes and vehicles.
Typically, FEMA would pay 75 percent of disaster costs, the state would pick up 12.5 percent, and the remaining 12.5 percent would be paid for locally.
Escambia and Santa Rosa counties’ state Legislative delegation on Tuesday requested Gov. Rick Scott to issue a disaster declaration in response to the weekend flooding. The letter was signed by state Sens. Don Gaetz and Greg Evers and state Reps. Clay Ford, Matt Gaetz and Clay Ingram.
A disaster declaration from Scott would allow for state and federal assistance for Escambia and Santa Rosa.
The Cost
“We’re just starting to get numbers in,” said Kathleen Dough-Castro, an Escambia County spokeswoman.
The county is collecting data from the City of Pensacola, the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority and other local government agencies to submit to the state. The largest single source of damage so far is in damage to public buildings.
The Central Booking and Detention facility at Escambia County Jail suffered millions in damage when its basement flooded in Saturday’s heavy rains, officials have said.
Tax Collector Janet Holley said her Warrington office on North Navy Boulevard had damage that will cost thousands to fix. The floor, sheetrock and parts of the ceiling will have to be replaced, she said.
