Federal Aid for Alabama Reaches $32 Million; Registration Extension Approved

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Nearly $19 million has been approved through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Individuals and Households Program. Another $1.3 million has been provided to state, county and local governments through FEMA’s Public Assistance Program. In addition, the U.S. Small Business Administration has approved more than $12 million through its low-interest disaster loan program.

In addition, Gov. Robert Bentley has requested and FEMA has approved a two-week extension to the registration period, which now extends to July 15.

The following numbers, compiled June 26, provide a snapshot of the Alabama/FEMA disaster recovery to date:

Funds approved

• $15.4 million for Housing Assistance grants to help with recovery rental expenses and home repair costs.
• $3.5 million for Other Needs Assistance to cover essential disaster-related needs, such as medical expenses and lost personal possessions.
• $12.6 million approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration for low-interest loans to eligible homeowners, renters or business owners.
• $1.3 million for Public Assistance programs including debris removal, storm response and infrastructure repair and replacement.

Survivor Recovery

• 14,819 damaged homes and property have been inspected (99 percent of requests).
• 4,592 visits have been made to the 11 Disaster Recovery Centers located in designated counties. (All centers have closed; five have transitioned to Disaster Loan Outreach Centers, operated by the SBA.)
• 9 counties designated for Individual Assistance.
• 21 counties designated for Public Assistance.

FEMA works with many volunteer agencies and the private sector to speed the recovery effort. Those affected by the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding need to register with FEMA for disaster assistance.

No matter the degree of loss or insurance status, survivors are urged to apply for help. They can use the following methods:

• By phone, call 800-621-3362 (FEMA) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., local time. Operators are multilingual. TTY 800-462-7585.
• By computer, go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
• By smartphone or tablet, use m.fema.gov.

County-by-County approved breakdown of Individual Assistance:

Recovery officials urge all Alabama residents who have registered for assistance to stay in close contact with FEMA throughout the recovery process. This is especially true during the first weeks after registering when FEMA housing inspectors must contact applicants to view damages. Those with mobile phones should provide that number to FEMA during the registration.

Affected survivors and business owners in the nine designated counties may apply for assistance from FEMA and/or the SBA. Those counties are: Baldwin, Blount, DeKalb, Etowah, Jefferson, Lee, Limestone, Mobile and Tuscaloosa.                               

Disaster Loan Outreach Centers, operated by the SBA to assist survivors with questions about federal loans, are located in Baldwin and Mobile counties. These offices are located at:

• Elberta Town Hall, 10352 Main Street, Elberta, AL 36540.
• Fairhope Civic Center (Delchamps Room), 161 North Section Street, Fairhope, AL 36532.
• Old Navy/Marine Corps Reserve Center, 4851 Museum Drive, Mobile, AL 36608.

These facilities, which also are staffed with a FEMA specialist, are open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Tuesday, July 15. Outreach centers will be closed Friday, July 4.