FEMA reps in area to talk to March 12 storm victims

A little more than a week after tornadoes went through parts of Saline County, officials are still making sure that everyone eligible for disaster recovery assistance is contacted.

The Saline County Commission received a visit Tuesday morning from a pair of Federal Emergency Management Agency representatives in the area to talk with victims of the March 12 storms. The FEMA representatives talked Monday to homeowners whose residences were destroyed and were to begin door-to-door contacts Tuesday with others suffering storm damage.

Vicki L. Beliveau, one of the two FEMA community relations contacts, said anyone can apply for federal assistance and property owners usually know within a few days if they qualify for help.

The first step is still to either go on-line to FEMA's Web site, http://www.fema.gov, or call toll-free at 1-800-621-3362 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. seven days a week.

Presiding Commissioner Becky Plattner said she is remaining in contact with the State Emergency Management Agency also, with teleconferences each afternoon through this week.

In other business, the commission opened three bids for used tractors, two from Kansas implement dealerships and the third from Tennessee. All the bids, the lowest of which was $48,400, delivered, were taken under advisement.

Only one bid was received for materials to reconstruct a bridge on County Road 323. That bid, from Viebrock Construction of Sedalia for $47,886.94, was accepted. The bridge has been out of service for approximately six months.

Contact Mark Lile at

marshallbusiness@socket.net