The Commissioners Court approved Tuesday extending the disaster declaration from Imelda for another thirty days. The extension will stretch the disaster declaration to December 26, 2019.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) had closed its office at the Orange County Convention and Expo Center last Friday. The SBA has requested another thirty days to office in the Expo Center. The Commissioners approved for the SBA to use the space until December 22.
Emergency Management Coordinator Joel Ardoin said the SBA has approved 213 home loans for Orange County citizens for $10,822,600. The federal agency has also approved four business loans.
The Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at the Expo Center will shutdown for two days at Thanksgiving on Thursday and Friday next week. The DRC will reopen on December 2. The final day for citizens to register with FEMA for damage from Imelda is Tuesday, December 3.
Ardoin updated the Court on debris removal. The county Road and Bridge Department has removed 2,712 cubic yards. TxDOT has cleared 22,426 cubic yards and the City of Vidor has moved 33,626 cubic yards.
Maintenance Director Kurt Guidry told the Commissioners he will be meeting four contractors next week for them to review the scope of work on the office building in Mauriceville that was damaged by Harvey. Commissioner Theresa Beauchamp hopes to have her office in that building after repairs to it are complete.
Guidry has met with three contractors and will meet with another one this week to review the work to be done on the Raymond Gould Community Center in Vidor. The center has been used for elections recently.
Michelle Tubbleville with Orange County Disaster Rebuild announced a special event her organization is doing with other organizations in the county. The Imelda Winter Recovery Event will by Friday, November 22. Joining Orange County Disaster Rebuild are the Lions Clubs of the county, United Way of Orange County, the local Salvation Army, the South East Texas Food Bank in cooperation with the Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce.
The group will distribute turkeys, food boxes, first aid kits, and blankets to 300 families affected by Imelda. The distribution will be at the Orange County Convention and Expo Center at 10:00 AM on Friday.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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