Disaster Recovery Update
Release Date: September 30, 2004
Release Number: 1549-018
» More Information on Alabama Hurricane Ivan
MOBILE, Ala. -- Two weeks after Hurricane Ivan hit Alabama, more than 71,000 residents have registered with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for help in recovering from the storm, disaster officials today announced.
- During the transition to recovery operations, FEMA and the state continue to provide assistance to those in hard-hit areas who have needs. Current supplies of water, ice and MREs are more than adequate, and inventories are being redirected to help relief efforts in Florida. Emergency power generators are being taken out of service as power is restored to affected areas.
- The Logistical Staging Area at Maxwell Air Force Base has ceased operations. Total life-sustaining commodities include:
- Water -1.5 million gallons
- Ice - 15 million pounds
- MREs - 1.6 million
- Tarps - 45,000 "self-help" tarps have been distributed to counties. Contact your local emergency manager for pick-up sites.
- Disaster Help Alabama is providing assistance to those who need help making minor roof repairs using tarps as a temporary fix. For more information, visit www.disasterhelp.net/alabama or call 1-877-824-9826.
Assistance to Individuals and Households
- To apply for disaster assistance, call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Persons with speech or hearing impairment can call TTY 1-800-462-7585. Lines remain open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until further notice.
- Disaster officials ask callers to be patient. If you get a busy signal, try calling during off-hours. If you experienced minor damage, consider calling a few days later, so that people with more serious needs can get help quickly.
- Alabamians have received more than $43.5 million in disaster aid to individuals and households, according to officials from Alabama Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) and FEMA.
- Eligible applicants received more than $26 million in disaster housing assistance, which helps renters and homeowners whose primary residences were damaged or destroyed to obtain temporary housing or make minor repairs to their homes in order to make them habitable.
- Eligible applicants received nearly $17.5 million to help meet other essential disaster-related needs such as medical expenses, transportation needs and personal property not covered by insurance or other aid programs.
- More than 8,000 have visited 12 Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs). DRCs provide information and written materials about various disaster assistance programs, including tax-related issues, crisis counseling, disaster unemployment benefits, and U.S. Small Business Administration loans.
- Approximately 125 FEMA/State Community Relations personnel are in the field providing outreach information in storm-damaged communities. Multilingual translators are assisting with victims’ language needs.
- Alabamians who lost their source of income due to Hurricane Ivan may be eligible for federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits even if they would not normally be eligible for state unemployment compensation. Apply for DUA by calling the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations at 1-866-234-5382. More information on DUA is available at www.dir.alabama.gov.
- Nearly $4 million in FEMA disaster relief for elderly victims of Hurricane Ivan is available through the Alabama Department of Senior Services to provide critical services and advocacy for the elderly. Apply by calling the toll-free FEMA registration number, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).
- Federal assistance is available for farmers or ranchers whose homes and personal property were damage by the Hurricane Ivan. Call the FEMA toll-free registration number 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) for details.
- Loans up to $500,000 may be available for farmers, ranchers and landowners to cover production, property losses and physical structures part of farming operations, such as barns and sheds. Debris removal assistance is also available. Contact your local Farm Service Agency for details.
- Disaster officials are advising residents whose home and businesses were affected by Hurricane Ivan to be on the lookout for harmful mold. Harmful exposure can occur during cleanup and recovery work. Contact your county health department for further information or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 1-800-438-4318.
- The Disaster Help Alabama Hotline is in operation for hurricane victims who need assistance, or for volunteers who are willing to donate goods and services. For more information, visit www.disasterhelp.net/alabama, or call 1-877-824-9826. Hotline hours are 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. seven days a week.
More Recovery News
- Currently, 53 counties are approved for Individual Assistance under the presidential declaration issued as a result of Hurricane Ivan.
- State and local governments, and certain non-profits in 32 counties are eligible for Public Assistance reimbursement for debris removal and emergency protective measures taken to respond to the storm on a cost-share basis.
- Most counties are contracting debris removal through private companies; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will head debris operations for Escambia and Mobile counties, and the city of Greenville.
- Currently, 71 personnel from other federal agencies are assisting 299 FEMA staff in recovery operations at the Joint Field Office in Mobile.
- For more information on Hurricane Ivan disaster recovery, visit FEMA's website at www.fema.gov, and the Alabama Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) disaster website at www.ema.alabama.gov.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Friday, 01-Oct-2004 11:41:31