Storms, Fires in 2012 Took Toll on Garland County, Hot Springs
By:
Updated: January 3, 2013
Cleaning up after the winter storm that knocked down trees and power lines in Garland County might cost taxpayers more than $1 million.
That's the best estimate county officials have come up for now.
They're hoping state and federal management agencies will be able to kick in some money to offset the clean up costs or else the money will likely have to come out of the road fund which as already cut last year, said Garland County Judge Rick Davis.
"It's a bad situation but it's something we have to deal with," Davis said.
Last year, a combined total of five fires and storms pounded the county---a microburst in August 2012 blew a hole in the side of a downtown hotel and caused property damage throughout portions of Hot Springs, plus wildfires exacerbated by the drought sent firefighters scrambling to put out the fires.
Add in the bad economy and dealing with cost to recover is not going to be easy.
County and city budgets took a hit dealing with those disasters, Davis said.
State and Federal Emergency Management Agency officials on Friday are slated to be in Garland County to assess if the county is eligible for assistance.
That's the best estimate county officials have come up for now.
They're hoping state and federal management agencies will be able to kick in some money to offset the clean up costs or else the money will likely have to come out of the road fund which as already cut last year, said Garland County Judge Rick Davis.
"It's a bad situation but it's something we have to deal with," Davis said.
Last year, a combined total of five fires and storms pounded the county---a microburst in August 2012 blew a hole in the side of a downtown hotel and caused property damage throughout portions of Hot Springs, plus wildfires exacerbated by the drought sent firefighters scrambling to put out the fires.
Add in the bad economy and dealing with cost to recover is not going to be easy.
County and city budgets took a hit dealing with those disasters, Davis said.
State and Federal Emergency Management Agency officials on Friday are slated to be in Garland County to assess if the county is eligible for assistance.
