More than $3.5M in Ala. Assistance Issued

In the month since the President declared three Alabama counties eligible for Individual Assistance, more than $3.5 million in disaster assistance has been approved to help those affected by Hurricane Dennis, state and federal officials announced last week.

“We continue to focus on the immediate needs of those who suffered damage from the hurricane. Our task is to bring assistance to those in Mobile, Baldwin and Escambia counties and the public assistance infrastructure in the 46 affected counties” said Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Federal Coordinating Officer Mike Bolch.

Checks, totaling $3,550,690 million, have been approved since the application process began on July 10. Housing Assistance to individuals has amounted to $1,916,289. ‘Other Needs Assistance’ (ONA) funds approved has amounted to $1,634,403. A total of 10,974 individuals and small business owners from the disaster-designated counties have applied for assistance as of the close of business Thursday, Aug. 4.

“We appreciate the assistance from FEMA in the first four weeks following Hurricane Dennis. To date, in excess of 3,533 individuals registering for assistance have been approved for some form of funding to help them on the road to recovery,” said State Coordinating Officer Bruce Baughman.

An overview of the disaster recovery statistics –

* In the Individuals and Households Program 9,221 applications have been received. The total number of approved payments for Individual Households and Other Needs Assistance is 4,080, representing $3.55 million.
* Disaster Recovery Centers were opened in Atmore, Brewton, Saraland and Bay Minette. A total of 1,954 individuals visited the centers before they closed on July 30.
* A total of 139 regular shelters, plus 10 special needs shelters accommodated 8,600 people in the first days of the disaster.
* Through the close of business Aug. 4, in excess of 8,950 inspections have been returned to FEMA by field inspectors.
* A total of 248 requests for Public Assistance have been received by local and state entities and private non-profit agencies.
* FEMA mitigation personnel are distributing printed information to the public at Lowe’s, Home Depot, Marvin’s and Wal Mart locations in Escambia, Baldwin and Mobile counties.
* Lutheran Disaster Response volunteers are conducting ‘Camp Noah’ in Escambia County to help reduce anxieties of children affected by the Hurricane.
* The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has opened two workshops (Fred’s Dollar in Atmore and the Civic Center in Saraland) to assist victims with their disaster loan applications. To date the SBA has approved in excess of $121,000 in loans.
* The deadline for registering for FEMA assistance is Sept. 8.

Residents of Escambia, Mobile and Baldwin counties who received damage from Hurricane Dennis can call the FEMA teleregistration line at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. (CDT), seven days a week until further notice. Registration can also be done on-line at www.fema.gov.