Provo withdraws disaster request
Officials announced Friday they were withdrawing the disaster declaration they made after the damaging storm swept through the city, leaving an estimated $13.2 million in damages in its wake. They said there was sufficient insurance coverage that such a declaration by the federal government was not likely.
Provo city officials declared the area a disaster zone the day after the storm. Utah County officials approved the declaration and forwarded it to the Utah Department of Public Safety, which has the authority to forward it to federal entities.
However, to qualify for the federal designation, a certain percentage of the estimated damage to public property must lack insurance coverage. After meeting with insurance providers this week, city officials determined enough had been covered to negate the need for a disaster declaration.
"We have determined that much of our loss and that of other public entities will be covered by insurance and that the remaining amounts would fall short of the minimum totals required for federal assistance," Provo Mayor Lewis K. Billings said in a statement Friday. "As such, we are withdrawing our request and feel fortunate to have been well prepared with good insurance coverage."
Cleanup from the storm is ongoing. City crews will continue curbside removal of trees and other organic debris from the storm through Aug. 21. Residents who are able to haul debris to the city compost station on their own are still encouraged to do so. The station is located at 1625 S. 700 East and is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
E-mail: jtwitchell@desnews.com
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