Cameron County continues to receive Dolly reimbursements

Cameron County is continuing to be reimbursed for money spent as a result of Hurricane Dolly last year.

The costs incurred during and after the 2008 hurricane were numerous. Buildings, roads, parks and bridges had to be repaired. Debris had to be removed, water pumped from flooded areas and trees cleared from roads. Additionally, labor costs had to be paid to the various entities that helped Rio Grande Valley residents make it through the hurricane.

So far, the Texas Division of Emergency Management has paid the county about $6.2 million in reimbursements. The county expects that about $1.2 million more will be handed over once an audit is conducted, to ensure that the county has completed rehabilitation projects to the state’s satisfaction.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, provides emergency relief money to the states, which then distributes the funds to affected areas.

The total amount the county expects to receive, $7.4 million, is only 75 to 80 percent of the money the county actually spent during the hurricane, making the figure the county spent closer to $9.25 million. That means Cameron County, the governmental entity, will be responsible for about $1.85 million.

Robert L. Lopez, the director of administrative services for the county, updated the County Commissioners' Court on Tuesday during a special meeting.

Lopez said that he hopes the audit will occur in December, before the holidays, and that the remainder of the money the county is owed will be turned over in January.

"There were many disasters back-to-back last year," Lopez said. "I think the Texas Division of Emergency Management got backed up in their process."