WASHINGTON, D.C. – The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that federal disaster aid has been made available for Alabama to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and flooding during the period of December 12-18, 2009.
Federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms and flooding in the counties of Barbour, Butler, Clarke, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Escambia, Geneva, Henry, and Pike.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for all counties and tribes within the state.
Michael Bolch has been named the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Bolch said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.
FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.