Grundy County receives welcome news from FEMA

Two damaged bridges north of Wellsburg to be repaired

GRUNDY CENTER — Grundy County received welcome news for its efforts to recover from flash flooding in the northern part of the county earlier this year, as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) last week added the county to its most recent major disaster declaration for the area.

County Engineer Gary Mauer said the declaration is important because it allows the county to apply for funds that will help it repair infrastructure damaged in June 24 floods that hit the South Beaver Creek area extremely hard. Bridges on both G Avenue and H Avenue between 140th and 150th Streets have been closed since the storm and are slated for replacement, though Mauer said it could be next year before that happens.

The FEMA declaration allows Grundy County to apply for repair funding. Approved projects receive 75 percent funding from the federal government and 10 percent funding from the state, with the county required to pick up the remaining 15 percent.

The flooding, which also caused extensive damage to a bridge on Highway T-19 north of Wellsburg, left approximately $1.1 million in damage to infrastructure. The T-19 bridge has already been repaired and was reopened earlier this month.

Read the full article in the Aug. 29 edition of the Register.