By By Kerry Whipple Bean
publisher
Escambia County and municipal governments will receive federal aid to help pay for last month’s flood damage, officials announced Wednesday.
Escambia County and city governments estimated over $6 million in damages from flooding that hit beginning late Dec. 14. In Brewton, East Brewton and Flomaton, businesses, roads and bridges were damaged by creek and river flooding; in Atmore, heavy rain led to massive flash flooding.
President Barack Obama signed the federal disaster declaration Thursday and ordered federal and state aid to the area. Counties included in the declaration are Barbour, Butler, Clarke, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Escambia, Geneva, Henry and Pike. The state requested the assistance 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.
Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director Brock Long said the state appreciates the quick response by FEMA.
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.