By Staff
Staff Reports
Governor Bob Riley on Thursday received approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for disaster aid for Alabama counties affected by severe storms and flooding Dec. 12-18. Counties included in this declaration are Barbour, Butler, Clarke, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Escambia, Geneva, Henry and Pike.
The assistance was requested on Dec. 23.
Federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by these storms.
W. Craig Fugate, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Michael Bolch as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for all counties and tribes within the state.
Application procedures for local governments will be explained at a series of federal/state applicant briefings with locations to be announced in the affected area by recovery officials. Approved public repair projects are paid through the state from funding provided by FEMA and other participating federal agencies.
For further information contact the Escambia County Office of Emergency Management at 251-867-0232.