Supervisors extend county state of emergency

By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
May 20, 2003
Lauderdale County Supervisors extended its declared state of emergency on Monday at the request of county engineer Neal Carson.
Supervisors declared an emergency in early April after severe storms and excessive rain caused wind and flood damage throughout the county.
Carson said there are still numerous ditches his crews need to clean out that are off of the county right-of-way. He said there are still downed trees and other debris that needs to be removed.
Carson also updated supervisors on closed roads in the county.
The severe weather damaged the bridge on Cotton Gin Road, causing it to close. Carson said the Federal Emergency Management Agency estimated the cost of replacement of the bridge at $130,000, which will be reimbursed to the county from the federal agency.
Carson said he was told Monday that permission had been obtained from the Lauderdale County School Board so that work can begin on repairs to the bridge on Allen Swamp Road, which will be repaired with state money.
The bridge was declared unsafe and was closed before the severe weather came in April.