FEMA may be replacing flooded pole vault pit in Ohio

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http://www.starbeacon.com/local/local_story_300175133

FEMA to help Geneva schools after flooding


Star Beacon


By MARGIE TRAX PAGE

Staff Writer

mtrax@starbeacon.com

GENEVA - - The Geneva Board of Education will get some federal relief for Memorial Field, which flooded in late July.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will pay to repair more than 90 percent of the damage to the waterlogged turf of the football field, the flattened fence, the flooded field house and ruined sports uniforms, Treasurer Kevin Lillie said at Wednesday's regular Board of Education meeting.

"The water from Cowles Creek rose 4 feet above the level of the football field. The field and track were covered in silt; items in the field house were damaged or ruined, including all the sports uniforms waiting to be distributed to the student-athletes," Lillie said.

The school district uses the space under the grandstand for storage, and the floodwaters ruined much of what was kept there, Lillie said.

"The mats used for the pole vault and high jump were sodden with creek water. Those pads could never be cleaned so (that) there wouldn't be some kind of bacteria growing in them," Lillie said. "Some chemicals, such as paint, were also stored there, and those materials had to be professionally removed after the floodwaters receded," he said.

The field house had to be cleaned and disinfected professionally, as did several carpets in some of the district's buildings.

The biggest flood expense to the district was $12,000 for fencing at Memorial Field, Lillie said.

The school district has spent $55,949 repairing or replacing damaged items, Lillie said. FEMA will pay about $43,640 toward the damages, which is 75 percent of costs plus 3 percent administration costs, he said. The Ohio Emergency Management Agency will give the district 12 percent of the loss, which amounts to almost $7,000, Lillie said.

The Geneva Athletic Boosters will not be able to recoup their loss of vending machines and other equipment because the club is not directly a part of the school district.

"Unfortunately, they will have to absorb those losses," Lillie said. "The government does not consider the Boosters as being under the umbrella of the district."

As one of the conditions for obtaining FEMA relief, the district is being required to purchase flood insurance.

"The flood is being called a 100-year event, but we have no reason to believe it won't happen again," Lillie said.