Damages from the Blizzard

By J.D. DENNIS
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FEMA representative Brad Crane visited Guymon and other parts of Texas County on Monday, April 20.
Their visit was to make a preliminary assessment on how much damage was done to the affected area from the intense snow storm that hit back on March 27.
This was their first visit to assess the damage and the preliminary visit is just to get a rough estimate as to how much the area was affected overall. What many don't realize is not only does it cost a lot of money to fix the structural damage done during the storm, but also for other fees that would be accumulated from the clean up.
A few years ago FEMA was required to come and do a similar assessment of the area after the ice storm hit the area and downed several power poles, trees, etc. The crews that cleaned up the tree limbs out of yards, roads, and off of houses also costs. These fees are referred to as Category B, Emergency Protective Measures. These are fees that are factored in for paying the persons that are running the equipment to help clean and fix the area. They also factor in the gas that the machines all run off of which includes everything from plowing and clearing snow off the roads to using the wood chippers and trucks to move the tree limbs years ago. According to Mr. Crane, these fees alone are enough to bankrupt smaller affected towns such as Guymon, Goodwell, Tyrone, Texhoma, etc.
Buildings that were assessed as well included the Guymon Community Building, which received considerable damage that is still affecting the operations inside. Part of a structural roof that was built on to connect the building with the other behind it was completely damaged and caved in due to the weight of the snow. The damages from this alone came close to $100,000. The building received significant water damage as well and is still attempting to drain the water out of the walls.
After a break for lunch, the team went over to Tyrone to look into the roof collapsing on the high school gymnasium.
After the preliminary assessment was finished and totaled out, the number was in the area of $450,000 of damage in Texas County alone. This amount should be enough, according to Mr. Crane, to get an amount of money awarded to the area from the President to help fix the area back up and keep the rural communities from going completely under due to the damages.