Our team is currently supporting Blue Ridge Energy with management and administration of all activities related to the FEMA PA program after the devastating damage caused by Tropical Storm Helene. Our singular objective is to assist the cooperative with recovery by fully scoping all damage and costs, then maximizing all reimbursements.
EM Partners is assisting the cooperative by identifying and quantifying all eligible damage to include an emergency expedited funding project of $23M. Blue Ridge Energy provides electric power that is facilitated by fiber optics linking meters and transmission stations throughout their seven-county service area. The cooperative lost thousands of miles of conductor and well over 1,000 utility poles. EM Partners team members are formulating Category B and Category F projects and amendments, assembling, compiling, and validating all data related to force account labor, equipment usage, material purchases, mutual aid assistance, and contract services. They are also addressing issues related to waterway concerns and environmental and historical preservation. Resulting projects will be submitted to the FEMA Grants Portal on the client’s behalf. Due to the catastrophic nature of this event, costs have been exorbitant. EM Partners will formulate a specific funding request to reimburse the cooperative for interest paid on emergency loans needed to finance restoration of power to members.
Once all projects are obligated, EM Partners will also manage the payout process with NC Emergency Management by submitting reimbursement requests and reconciling payments against obligated funding dollars.