Fallout from storm Ida continues

County renews disaster declaration as one-year mark nears

Montgomery County officials once again extended an emergency disaster declaration related to damage caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida on Thursday.

First authorized in the days following the Sept. 1, 2021 storm, the order gave officials the opportunity to efficiently respond to the widespread destruction brought on by historic flooding and an EF-2 tornado.

“The county continues to deal with the fallout from that,” said Solicitor Josh Stein during the July 7 county commissioners meeting.

Numerous individuals and families were displaced as a result of the September 2021 storm. Montgomery County has spent more than $3.5 million on “emergency housing and support services to victims of Hurricane Ida” as the one-year mark approaches, a county spokesperson told MediaNews Group on June 30.

In January, 115 storm victims were reportedly staying in hotels paid by the county, according to a county spokesperson.

“Based off (of) FEMA filings, the county has paid out $23 million to $25 million in clean-up, infrastructure, damage, and sheltering costs related to Hurricane Ida,” Public Affairs Manager Teresa Harris told MediaNews Group in April.

There is a 60-day window when the emergency disaster declaration is valid. It’s been renewed in October, December, March, and May. This latest renewal is slated to take effect July 9.

“Today’s the renewal for the most recent period of time that would take us to the one-year mark,” Stein said on Thursday. “Unfortunately, we … need it to assist individuals and deal (with) the fallout from Ida, and this would allow us to continue to do so.”