One month has passed since Globe, Arizona was hit by floods labeled historical and deadly, and the city is making strides in recovery with clean-up ongoing, but there is a looming concern over the financial strain on the small community, FOX 10 Phoenix reports. The mayor, Al Gameros, spoke of the difficulty in keeping attention on the town's plight, stating, "We had a disaster and at the same time you're learning what the rules are," acknowledging the process's complexity and how federal and state funds will play a pivotal role in not leaving the city financially broken.
While Broad Street has reopened, damaged structures stand as a reminder of what occurred and what could come again, prompting discussions on updated floodplain maps and preventative infrastructure enhancements; as Carl Melford, Gila County Emergency Manager, identified the need for better-engineered responses, especially targeting the flood insurance rates, which he hopes will become more accurate and affordable according to FOX 10 Phoenix. The city is in a race against time to submit a detailed damage assessment to the federal government by Friday, the threshold set at $13 million, which would activate aid that could fund up to 90% of repair costs, as the city scrutinizes every shattered fixture and ruptured pipeline.
Gameros, in an interview with AZFamily, expressed the city's dire need for these funds: “Small cities don’t have the money like the big cities do, and you have to spend the money in order to get reimbursed." This poignant truth highlights the precarious financial line Globe walks on, where the failure to secure federal assistance could spell more than just material destruction.
Despite the struggle the community is united as some businesses begin to reopen their doors; Erika Flores, co-owner of the Pretty Kind Boutique, shared her relief and fortune compared to others, but also voiced her concern about the drop in tourism which is crucial for the local economy as she said tourism is way down and, "I think people don’t realize that there are businesses on Broad Street that are open,” she remarked in a statement obtained by AZFamily. The city anticipates a federal FEMA disaster declaration, which was submitted on October 24, and in the coming months, an after-action report to assess the flood response and pave the way for a sturdier, more resilient Globe.
