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Springfield Tornado Costs Put At $106 Million

Springfield Tornado Costs Put  At $106 Million
WAMC
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WAMC
Homes in the Six Corners neighborhood of Springfield Mass. which were damaged by the June 1, 2011 tornado

By Paul Tuthill

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-988379.mp3

Springfield, MA – The cost to the city of Springfield Massachusetts to rebuild from the June 1st tornadoes is expected to top 106 million dollars. City officials are looking to maximize reimbursements from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, but so far no money has been received from FEMA WAMC"s Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports.

The public's tab for the tornado recovery in Springfield includes rebuilding two heavily damaged schools and a community center, demolishing condemned properties, fixing streets and sidewalks, and hauling away debris.
The city has so far spent almost ten million dollars and has encumbered nearly 13 million dollars on tornado recovery projects. Springfield's Chief Administration and Finance Officer, Lee Erdmann says the city expects to have at least 75 percent of its disaster expenses reimbursed by FEMA.
City officials say the process for seeking federal reimbursement is complex and time consuming. City Finance Director TJ Plante says its unknown when the city will be reimbursed for the projects it has already undertaken.
The Springfield City Council authorized deficit spending for the tornado emergency response, but at some point the books will have to be balanced, says city councilor Michael Fenton, who chairs the finance committee.
City Councilor Timothy Allen says the tornado recovery will impact the city's finances for the foreseeable future.
Most of the money the city has actually spent, more than 6 and half million dollars, has been for debris removal. Chris Cignolli, chief engineer with the Springfield Department of Public Works says 150 thousand cubic yards of material has been picked up.
The largest chunk of the city's estimated storm recovery budget, almost 65 million dollars is for repairs at two schools, a community center and several parks . 17 million dollars has been budgeted to secure and demolish blighted properties. City officials are monitoring about 600 properties where it appears the owners have made little attempt to repair storm damage.