Posted by: Joe Girot, Federal Coordinating Officer, Alabama Severe Storms and Tornadoes
I’m back in Alabama again, leading FEMA’s response to another set of tornadoes that hit Alabama Jan. 22-23. Though not as many people were affected by this round of tornadoes, it’s not about the numbers for me. For me, knowing we can help even one disaster survivor makes my FEMA work worthwhile and makes me glad to be able to help the people of Alabama who have been affected by these storms.
Since President Obama made the disaster declaration for Alabama on the afternoon of Feb. 1, I’ve been going full-throttle. The next morning I met with Alabama Governor Robert Bentley in Montgomery for the formal signing of the federal-state agreement. I told the Governor that returning to Alabama felt like coming home to family, and he said that over the last year, he couldn’t have asked for more cooperation from FEMA.
Within 72 hours, my team set up five disaster recovery centers in Chilton and Jefferson counties. Community Relations staff fanned out into the hardest-hit areas and distributed information on the new disaster recovery center, or DRC, locations and guidelines on FEMA registration.
As of today, FEMA has more than 1,000 in funding ready to assist the 132 individuals and families whose registrations have already been approved. We have 288 property inspections completed and 397 visits have been made to the five DRC’s. The Small Business Administration has staff at all the DRC’s and has already distributed 452 loan applications for homeowners and 61 for businesses.
I got to speak Sunday (in Spanish!) about FEMA’s Individual Assistance programs during a Spanish-language service at the First Methodist Church of Clanton. About 80 people were there, and I asked them to spread the word about registering for help and visiting the DRC’s located in Clanton and Maplesville in Chilton County.
All of us working here are proud to be part of Alabama’s emergency management team, and working with human services agencies, local government officials, and tireless volunteers to get Alabama – once again – back on the road to recovery.
Posted by: Public Affairs
At the request of President Obama, Administrator Fugate is travelling to Alabama today to meet with Gov. Robert Bentley, and other state and local officials, to assess damage and ensure the state is receiving all support needed for response and recovery operations. Details regarding Administrator Fugate’s visit to Alabama will be posted on the blog later today.
Since the tornadoes struck, through our regional office in Atlanta, Ga., we have been in constant contact with the governor’s office and state emergency management officials, and have deployed staff to Alabama’s emergency operations center to help with coordination needs.
And in case you missed it last night, President Obama signed an emergency declaration for Alabama, providing federal support to state and local response efforts.
For the latest information about FEMA’s response, see the Severe Storms / Tornadoes category on the blog.
Posted by: Public Affairs
Early this morning, President Obama declared a major disaster in Alabama as a result of the severe storms and tornadoes that began on April 15.
This makes federal funding available to individuals and business owners in Cullman, DeKalb, Franklin, Jefferson, Lawrence, Marshall, Tuscaloosa, and Walker counties, which can include grants for temporary housing, home repairs and low-cost loans. Federal funding is also available to state and eligible local governments in all 67 counties in the state as they continue with debris removal and emergency protective measures, such as providing shelter and meals.
Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance today by:
- registering online at http://www.disasterassistance.gov/,
- registering through a web enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov, or by
- calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.
As you may remember from soon after the storms struck, President Obama authorized an emergency declaration for Alabama, another avenue to provide federal assistance to support the state and local response efforts. At the President’s direction, Administrator Fugate has been on the ground in Alabama since yesterday morning, in both Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, and will be with the President in Alabama today. Deputy Administrator Rich Serino was on the ground in Georgia yesterday, and will be in Mississippi, with Governor Barbour, today.
In all of the areas affected by the severe storms and tornadoes, we continue to work closely with the entire emergency management team, especially the state emergency management agencies in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia, and Kentucky. As President Obama said just after the storms hit, the federal government “stands ready to continue to help the people of Alabama and all citizens affected by these storms”.
For the latest updates on our role, check out the Severe Storms / Tornadoes category on the blog. And if your area is at risk for severe storms and tornadoes in the future, you can take steps to get prepared at http://www.ready.gov/.
Posted by: Public Affairs
On April 28, President Obama declared a major disaster for Alabama after one of the worst tornado outbreaks in U.S. history tore through the Southeast. Alabama and Georgia were hit particularly hard, with large tornadoes traveling long paths and causing extensive damage.
Yesterday, FEMA began to send supplies to a FEMA staging area in Montgomery, AL to ensure the needed supplies are located close to the affected areas. More than 2 million liters of water, 1 million meals, roughly 60,000 tarps and other supplies are either en route or have arrived at the staging area.
If the southern states request supplies, items from the Incident Support Base will be sent forward to a Federal or State staging area, and ultimately transferred to the state. All points of distribution are identified and managed by the local/state emergency managers.
More than 100 generators are at the staging location, and could be used to potentially assist with the restoration of power to schools, fire stations, and other critical facilities. As the situation on the ground changes, we stand ready to send additional supplies to support state response and recovery requirements.
Check out the blog post where we talk about our Incident Support Bases (ISB) – it references our logistical support base that supports spring flooding in the Upper Midwest. The ISB at Maxwell will provide similar support to Alabama and other affected States.
Many of these supplies have come from the recently-opened, state-of-the-art Atlanta Distribution Center:
Posted by: Public Affairs
Our thoughts are with the families and communities in Alabama and Georgia that have been affected by the severe storms and tornados that have ripped through the region this evening and continue to impact the southern states.
Through our regional office in Atlanta, GA we have been in close contact and coordination with state emergency management officials, as they work tirelessly to meet the immediate needs of disaster survivors.
When natural disasters, such as severe storms and tornados, strike, the first responders are local emergency and public works personnel, volunteers, humanitarian organizations, and numerous private interest groups who provide emergency assistance required to protect the public’s health and safety and to meet immediate human needs.
This evening, President Obama signed an emergency declaration for Alabama, providing federal support to state and local response efforts.
- The President’s action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all federal disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in all 67 counties in the State of Alabama.
- Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures, limited to direct Federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding.
- At the request of the state of Alabama, FEMA is deploying a liaison officer to the state emergency operations center to assist in coordination efforts as the state continues to respond and begins to recover from this devastating storm outbreak.
More severe weather is forecasted throughout the south, so make sure you’re taking steps to stay safe before, during, and after the storm:
- Follow the instructions of state and local officials,
- Listen to local radio or TV stations for updated emergency information,
- Make sure you have a safe place to go in case severe weather approaches,
- Familiarize yourself with severe weather watch/warning terms
- Severe Thunderstorm Watch: Tells you when and where severe thunderstorms are likely to occur. Watch the sky and stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.
- Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Issued when severe weather has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar. Warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property to those in the path of the storm.
- Tornado Watch: Tornadoes are possible. Remain alert for approaching storms. Watch the sky and stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.
- Tornado Warning: A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. Take shelter immediately.
For complete tips on getting prepared for a tornado, severe storm, or flooding, visit Ready.gov or our mobile site (m.fema.gov).
Related blog posts: Our role in severe storms and tornadoes
Posted by: Public Affairs
Yesterday, at the request of President Obama, Administrator Fugate traveled to Alabama to meet with Governor Bentley and Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director Art Faulkner, along with other federal, state and local leaders.
Craig started the day in Birmingham where he met with Senator Shelby and Representatives Aderholt and Sewell. Together, along with members of the Alabama National Guard, and thanks to their helicopter support, the group did an aerial damage surveillance tour from Birmingham to Tuscaloosa.
Craig met up with Governor Bentley and Art Faulkner, Director of Alabama Emergency Management, in Tuscaloosa to discuss the ongoing response efforts and to ensure the Governor’s team had no unmet needs, and then traveled with the Governor to a devastated part of the city, to meet with state and local officials and disaster survivors.
At a press conference following the meetings, Craig praised the first responders, non-profit and faith-based organizations, as well as members of the general public for their courage, their quick response to this devastation, and for their tireless efforts to save lives and help the disaster survivors.
He also reiterated that FEMA stands in support of the Governor and his team – who is leading the response and recovery efforts in the state.
He then did some interviews with local and national news outlets about FEMA operations in the state and discussed how the recovery efforts will take some time.
Today, Administrator Fugate traveled around the state, this time accompanying President Obama.
For continued information about how FEMA is supporting response and recovery efforts, keep visiting our blog at blog.fema.gov.
The latest figures added by the deadliest tornado outbreak of the second record in the United States now stands at 350 after tornadoes struck a tower of seven southern states. Alabama, the most affected state revised its dead at 250 on Saturday (Sunday, Manila time) after initially reporting 255 deaths. At least 100 additional deaths were reported in Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Georgia, .. more …
