Okaloosa County was not included in a Presidential Disaster Declaration issued Friday to assist Northwest Florida counties that sustained damage from severe storms and flooding over the Fourth of July holiday.
Although Okaloosa did not meet its $623,835.90 damage threshold to qualify for help, the county has not been denied funds, said Beverly Byerts, public information officer for the Florida Division of Emergency Management. The process is ongoing, she said.
The state still is determining whether the Federal Emergency Management Agency needs more damage assessment reports from Okaloosa, Byerts said.
The county has asked for $480,188 in federal assistance.
It’s possible Okaloosa could be considered a contiguous area to Walton County and receive funding that way, said Randy McDaniel, Okaloosa’s emergency management director.
Walton, Holmes and Washington counties were approved for federal assistance Friday. Those counties sustained an estimated $28.7 million in damage July 2-7, according to the state Division of Emergency Management.
Walton sustained about $10.9 million in damage, mainly to roads. About 60 roads were closed by July 5 because of flooding.
Walton received almost 20 inches of rain during the holiday week. The Choctawhatchee River near Bruce reached as high as 17.6 feet, or major flood stage.
Okaloosa County saw 12.8 and 12.7 inches of rain at Eglin Air Force Base and Valparaiso, respectively.
The Blackwater River near Baker reached 12.6 feet and the Shoal River at Crestview reached 8.5 feet. Both readings were minor flood stage.
Okaloosa has started repairs to roads and bridges. Federal money would replenish some of the funds coming out of the public works budget, McDaniel said.
Bay County also was not included in the federal disaster declaration.
