By STEVE BINDER
Illinois Correspondent

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Federal money earmarked for cleanup of debris and other storm-related damage this spring is flowing into the coffers of affected local governments.

Through the end of May, more than $6 million was appropriated for the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program, overseen by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The money has been allocated to communities in 10 states, including Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi, North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Arkansas and Alabama.
The money through the EWP program can go only to local government sponsors, such as cities, counties, drainage districts or other units.

Up to 75 percent of the costs connected with storm damage, including the construction of emergency measures and cleanup of affected areas, can be covered with EWP money.

The remaining 25 percent must be covered by local sources, including in-kind services.

As an example, Kentucky is allocated to receive at least $500,000, so far to be shared by communities within seven counties, said Karen Woodrich, the state’s conservationist for the NRCS.

A total of 10 specific projects are included in those seven counties; NRCS representatives are continuing to evaluate another 34 requests from other local governments for assistance in Kentucky.

Tornadoes and flooding this year throughout the Heartland and South have left behind damages in at least the hundreds of millions.

Flooding damage to some 130,000 acres of rich farmland in southeastern Missouri, for instance, likely will exceed $150 million, the state’s ag director recently said.

Other forms of federal assistance, including low-interest loans through the USDA Farm Service Agency to individual landowners, do not impact the amount of money earmarked for the EWP program. Woodrich said NRCS field representatives are continuing to evaluate additional EWP requests.
For more details about the program, go to www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/ewp