Beaufort County crews assessing Matthew damage, officials hope for FEMA money

Crews with Beaufort County are out and about Tuesday assessing damage caused by Hurricane Matthew in hopes of receiving aid money from the federal government.

“In order to have a disaster area officially declared — which opens up federal money — you have to show that there is a certain amount of damage,” deputy county administrator Josh Gruber said Tuesday.

Today’s effort will help determine whether the county will be eligible for financial assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, he said.

Federal money would be used to help reimburse local governments’ cleanup efforts.

The county is performing the assessment in conjunction with municipal staff from Beaufort, Bluffton, Hilton Head Island, and Port Royal.

Gruber said once the assessment is complete — hopefully no later than Wednesday — the information gathered by crews will be sent to Gov. Nikki Haley for review.

“The governor would then make a (FEMA funding) request,” he said.

Haley said Tuesday afternoon that her office “will be watching and working” with local and federal officials on damage assessments and funding requests.

Gruber said locals shouldn’t be surprised if they see county crews around their properties over the next several days.

Driving county vehicles and dressed in county uniforms and reflective vests, county crews should be easily identifiable, he said.

This story was originally published October 11, 2016 at 3:17 PM with the headline "Beaufort County crews assessing Matthew damage, officials hope for FEMA money."