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BOONE COUNTY, MO. -- Early numbers show the cost of snow removal in Boone County during the recent blizzard is about $1.7 million.

Boone County Emergency Management Officials continue to collect preliminary numbers of the clean-up costs of this month’s 18-inch snow storm.

Some local emergency managers are hoping Uncle Sam can pay part of their clean-up bill.

The early Boone County estimate includes the cost of snow removal for every city, school district, hospital and college in Boone County.  Emergency Managers say that number is a rough estimate.  It will take more time to get solid numbers.  Emergency Officials from every Missouri county will be meeting with State Emergency Management Agency Officials this week to see if they qualify for federal disaster relief to help cover snow removal costs.

Boone County Emergency Management Director Zim Schwartze said, “After SEMA meets with all of the counties, they will be able to tabulate all of the figures for the entire state and obviously move forward by presenting that to the Governor.  At that point, he could then make a decision on whether to go forward from there with a declaration of disaster.”

That major disaster declaration would need the approval of FEMA and eventually the President’s signature.

Besides Boone County’s cost of $1.7 million, Jefferson City Emergency Officials have spent about $365,000 on snow removal this winter.  That includes the cost of overtime and chemicals.  Fulton City Leaders spent about $96,000 on snow removal for overtime, equipment and materials.

Emergency Officials say they are preparing for the worst with a long winter still ahead of us.

Boone and Callaway County Emergency Officials have meetings with FEMA representatives scheduled for Wednesday.