LUMBERTON — County officials who have been scrambling to restore normalcy following Hurricane Matthew will take a step in that direction tonight when the Robeson County Board of Commissioners will hold its regular monthly meeting, although it is expected to be short and focus on the aftermath of the storm.

County Manager Ricky Harris said that the commissioners will talk about hiring a person who is an expert on working with FEMA so that person can assist local people and entities in making claims for federal relief funds. When the president declares an area a disaster, which has happened in Robeson County, it becomes eligible for FEMA funding to cover things that are not covered by private insurance. Harris pointed out, as one example, that a lot of people do not have flood insurance for their businesses and homes.

Harris said County Attorney Patrick Pait has already been working on the steps necessary to hire such a person.

Harris said he expected the meeting to last only about 15 minutes and that it would be devoted almost entirely to Hurricane Matthew and the recovery.

The meeting will be at 6 p.m. at the county administrative office on Elm Street near downtown Lumberton.