2003 Storm Brings $86.2 Million For Response And Recovery Assistance
Release Date: May 4, 2004
Release Number: R4-04-080
ATLANTA - More than $86.2 million in federal loans and grants has been provided to help Alabama individuals and communities recover from losses resulting from severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that caused damages in 38 Alabama counties a year ago this May, according to the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
"Last years storms were devastating, yet we can see much progress has been made in getting individuals and communities back on their feet." said Mary Lynne Miller, acting regional director for FEMA Region IV. "We will continue to work along side the state of Alabama to help residents affected recover from this disaster."
The storms of last May generated a disaster declaration for Baldwin, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Clarke, Clay, Cleburne, Colbert, Coosa, Cullman, DeKalb, Escambia, Etowah, Jackson, Jefferson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lee, Limestone, Macon, Madison, Marshall, Mobile, Monroe, Morgan, Randolph, Russell, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker and Washington Counties, resulting in the following response and recovery actions:
- 23,659 persons were approved to receive various types of assistance.
- $22,763,658 was provided for housing assistance, one of the two categories administered under the Individuals and Households Program (IHP).
- $27,244,443 was provided for other needs such as medical, dental, personal property, transportation and other eligible expenses, also administered under the IHP.
- $11.5 million was obligated to pay for public assistance needs such as removal of debris, payment for the extraordinary work of emergency personnel, damage to public buildings, utilities, roads and bridges and for recreational losses. This represents an obligation to pay 75 per cent of the Public Assistance category of losses.
- $24.7 million in loans approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) composed of:
- $18 million for 1,125 home loans;
- $5.4 million for 105 business physical damage loans;
- $1,166,800 for 72 economic injury loans.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. 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: Tuesday, 04-May-2004 16:00:05