Estimates for flood damage in the millions - and rising

Kiley Russell

Monday, July 12, 1999 | 4:33 a.m.

With damage estimates topping $13 million, Southern Nevada officials met with state and federal officials to weigh possible aid for Thursday's massive flooding.

Officials from Las Vegas and Clark County agencies met Monday with representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Small Business Administration.

"The meeting is to get all of the principal people to coordinate the information we have to date and put together the joint damage assessment teams," said Bob Andrews, director of Clark County division of emergency management.

So far, damage estimates from the county total $7 million for public buildings and roads and at least $3 million for businesses.

Las Vegas officials estimate the damage to city property at $3 million so far. Those numbers are expected to rise over the next few days as damaged neighborhoods are more thoroughly investigated, said city spokeswoman Cathy Hanson.

Local officials refuse to speculate on what the most recent damage estimates to residential areas are, saying they'll be working out those numbers with their federal counterparts.

But high dollar damage estimates may not be enough to warrant federal assistance for local governments, businesses or residents, according to Andrews.

Before a disaster ravaged area is considered eligible for the SBA's low interest loans, 25 homes without insurance must be damaged beyond 40 percent of their assessed value, he said.

Similarly, a business must be uninsured to qualify for SBA assistance. Damage assessments for businesses, however, include revenue-loss estimates.

"FEMA is looking at altogether different and more difficult criteria," Andrews said. "If the disaster is of such magnitude that combined state and local resources are not adequate, then we'll qualify for presidential assistance."

Federal assistance could include both grants and low interest loans, Andrews said, with state, city and county governments contributing some percentage of the money to the repair efforts.

"I don't know how long it will take. I would guess at best we're looking at probably a couple of days - they've got a lot of work to do," Andrews said.