Five more Alabama counties designated for disaster assistance

MONTGOMERY, Alabama — Governor Bentley has been informed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency that Chilton, Coosa, Pickens, Shelby and Talladega counties have been designated for disaster assistance to households and businesses as part of Alabama's federal disaster declaration. With the addition of the five new counties, the total number of counties designated for Individual Assistance is 36.

"Alabamians are going to recover from this tragedy.  I am thankful that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has added five more Alabama counties to the federal disaster declaration," Gov. Bentley said. "These five new counties now have the maximum financial resources to pick up the pieces and start the recovery process."

Counties previously designated are Autauga, Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Choctaw, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Elmore, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Hale, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Limestone Madison, Marengo, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, Sumter, St. Clair, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Washington, Walker and Winston.

"This is a huge step in rebuilding the lives of so many survivors who have lost what they have worked so hard for," said AEMA Director Art Faulkner. "In the midst of so much bad news, I hope this provides a glimmer of hope."

Affected survivors and business owners in all designated counties should apply for assistance by calling FEMA's toll-free registration number, 800-621-FEMA (3362). The hearing or speech impaired can use the TTY line at 800-462-7585. The registration lines are available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., local time. An application may also be completed online by going to www.disasterassistance.gov.