Changes in the process to receive federal flood recovery dollars will not hinder applications, according to some local officials.
About 150 representatives of local and county agencies attended a briefing in Poplar Bluff Monday on Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance programs and other ways communities can receive help to repair or replace public infrastructure and buildings.
Officials from the Missouri counties of Butler, Ripley, Dunklin, Wayne and Stoddard attended.
"The whole process seems very intimidating, but once you get into it, it's just line by line," said Wayne County Presiding Commissioner Brian Polk, during a break in the three-hour briefing, which was held at the Knights of Columbus hall.
Wayne County estimates the road and bridge fund is covering about $1.3 million in flood-related damages, said Polk.
About $6 million in damage to public infrastructure has been reported across Wayne, Butler, Ripley and Dunklin counties.
Like many in the room, Polk has been through the FEMA application process following floods in 2008 and 2011, as well as other natural disasters in recent years.
Guidelines for the bidding process have changed and are more stringent now, according to information presented by David Burgan of the State Emergency Management Agency.
"Prepare yourself for this program, that's the best piece of advice I can give you today," Burgan said when opening the meeting. "You want to make sure you can speak the language."
Applicants now are more responsible for the process, he explained. Failure to fill out forms correctly and stay on top of the information needed by FEMA will halt the process, Burgan said.
Communities need to have their initial request for public assistance filed by July 2, within the 30-day time frame from the initial federal declaration.
Cities, counties and other entities will need to prove their bidding and purchasing processes meet state and federal guidelines, even for work already completed, Burgan said.
"The last few disasters, procurement policies have been a factor that has resulted in de-obligation," he said, which could mean a community has to return federal money for failing to prove the proper procedure was followed.
Butler County Presiding Commissioner Vince Lampe does not feel this will be a problem.
County workers in the clerk's office and highway department have been through this many times, he said.
"What I got from this meeting was document, document, document," Lampe said.
The county already is doing this, he said.
"You can't wait until they (FEMA) get here to start work," Lampe said.
Polk agreed, saying Wayne County has done its best to get every road passable, although there is still a great deal of work to do.
"It's just standard procedures," he said of the FEMA process.
The meeting offered a chance to learn about changes, but these shouldn't be a problem, said Connie Teslow, city clerk for Doniphan.
"We're relying on our emergency management staff. They were well versed (in procedures) and FEMA reached out to us," Teslow said.
Doniphan city officials already have established a new city hall after their building received almost 6 feet of water. The temporary site could be needed for up to a year, Teslow said.
Debris removal is among their biggest challenges now, she said. Funding for this was also covered during the meeting.
It is not known how long it could take for communities to begin receiving FEMA dollars, said media specialist Troy York.
It will be a case-by-case basis, he said.
"It depends on how complicated the need is, especially if the project takes a lot of review," York said.
Individual assistance to residents already is being distributed by FEMA.