CARR EARNS HERALD COACH OF YEAR HONOR SPORTS Page 8
Wetumpka, AL 36092
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SATURDAY-SUNDAY • JANUARY 2-3, 2016
THEWETUMPKAHERALD.COM
WATERLOGGED
A Wetumpka resident sits on a stump near the swollen banks of the Coosa River Dec. 27. At least a third of Gold Star Park remains under water from the flash floods Christmas Day.
Wetumpka assessing the rainfall damage Weather-watchers estimate 9 inches of rain since Dec. 24 By JOHN W. PEELER Managing Editor Although the complete damage assessments haven’t been completed and cost estimates not completed, Wetumpka is in the process of recovering from the recent rainfall, which continues to fall. The real damage from the river rising, Tex Grier, public works director for the City of Wetumpka said, was Gold Star Park, where the sound equipment, some Christmas decorations and scenes, and other items in the park were damaged. “The city probably had at least $5,000 worth damage from the river rising and
not from the storm water,” he said. “We reached 45.52 (feet), so were probably within six to eight inches from the water getting into some buildings downtown.” If the rain totals are correct from area weatherwatchers, the Wetumpka area has received more than 9 inches of rainfall since Christmas Eve until Dec. 30. Flash flooding across the city also caused damage to some of the roads, but none of the businesses, with the exception of getting some water under the doors, had any flood damage, he said. One road that has been closed until further notice is Company Street between Mansion Street and Green Street. “We had water to go across the road at the bait shop (on Company Street)
VOL. 11, NO. 1
Photo by Kevin Taylor
AEMA director: State may qualify for FEMA assistance By JOHN W. PEELER Managing Editor
If the state is able to meet the Federal Emergency Management Agency threshold, Elmore County could benefit from some disaster relief funds to help in its cleanup and repair efforts because of the flashing flooding. Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director Faulkner Art Faulkner met with Elmore County and city officials from across the county Wednesday at the Elmore County Emergency Operations Center to present a briefing on the public assisWater from the flash flooding Christmas Day caused severe errosion on tance process with regards to Photo courtesy of Therese Carter the recent flash flooding and See WETUMPKA • Page 2 Company Street in Wetumpka.
storms across the county. Faulkner, who lives in Elmore and is a former director of Elmore County E-911, said it has been a long time since people have seen the river as high as it is, referring to the swelling of the Coosa River during the week of April 27, 2011, when tornadoes ripped across the state. “This is not a quick process on flooding like those tornadoes were,” he said. Faulkner told officials from every agency what they are doing now and next week will go a long way toward determining if the state may be able to request FEMA assistance for public infrastructure and governmental entities. He also said the state EMA is continuing to work on the individual assistance. See STATE • Page 2
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