FEMA/State Disaster Assistance Tops $100 Million

Release Date: October 10, 2004 Release Number: 1549-042

» More Information on Alabama Hurricane Ivan

MOBILE, Ala.—Three weeks after Hurricane Ivan hit Alabama, more than 96,000 residents have registered with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for help in recovering from the storm, disaster officials today announced. Combined disaster assistance to Alabamians now exceeds $100 million. The following is a summary of federal and state disaster recovery assistance to date.

Assistance to Individuals and Households

• Individuals can begin the disaster application process by calling the toll-free registration number 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers are available 24-hours a day, seven days a week until further notice. If possible, try calling in the evening after 6:00 p.m. or on weekends when call volume often is lighter. Individuals can also find valuable recovery information on the agency’s website at www.fema.gov.
• To date, 65 counties have been approved for Individual Assistance under the September 15 presidential disaster declaration issued in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan.
• Alabamians have received $83.5 million in disaster aid to individuals and households.
  • To date, 31,963 applicants have received more than $49.5 million in disaster housing assistance, which helps renters and homeowners whose primary residences were damaged or destroyed to obtain temporary housing or perform minor repairs to their homes in order to make their residences habitable.
  • More than 21,000 applicants have received $34 million to help meet other essential disaster-related needs such as medical expenses, transportation needs and personal property not covered by insurance or other aid programs.
• To date, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved 64 disaster loans from homeowners, renters and businesses for $1.6 million. Low-interest SBA disaster loans are the primary source of assistance for long-term recovery.
• Disaster Unemployment Assistance is now available for Alabamians who are out of work as a direct result of the disaster, and who would not be eligible for regular unemployment compensation, such as the self-employed. Call the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations at 1-866-234-5382. To date, 678 claims have been approved and $131,481 has been disbursed.
• FEMA has approved a $393,963 grant to the Alabama Department of Mental Health to help those affected by Hurricane Ivan cope with the emotional stress resulting from the disaster. For more information, call 1-800-367-0955.
• The Alabama Department of Human Resources, in coordination with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has extended food stamp benefits to households in 24 counties. To date, more than $13 million in food stamps have been issued to 59,466 households to replace food that was spoiled due to power loss. In addition, 9,451 households that were not previously eligible for food stamps have received $3.36 million in emergency food stamp benefits.
• All Disaster Recovery Centers will be closed Monday, Oct. 11 in observance of Columbus Day. To date, more than 18,000 have visited DRCs in affected areas.
• Approximately 140 FEMA/State Community Relations personnel are in the field providing outreach information in storm-damaged communities. Multilingual translators are assisting with victims’ language needs.
• FEMA and the state of Alabama are in the process of implementing a disaster housing plan that includes using travel trailers for alternate housing. Travel trailers are the option of last resort, used only when other housing resources are unavailable. Currently, 50 travel trailers are pre-positioned in Alabama, and seven units have been placed on site for occupancy.
• Federal disaster assistance is available for farmers or ranchers whose homes and personal property were damage by Hurricane Ivan by calling the FEMA toll-free registration number at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).
• Agricultural loans up to $500,000 may be available to farmers, ranchers and landowners to cover production, property losses and physical structures part of farming operations. Contact the local Farm Service Agency for details.

More Recovery News

• Disaster Help Alabama is coordinating volunteer recovery services for hurricane victims. If you would like to donate goods or services, or if you have unmet disaster-related needs, call 877- 824-9826, or visit disasterhelp.net/alabama.
  • Disaster Help Alabama is providing volunteer assistance to the elderly and those who need help making minor roof repairs using “self-help” tarps as a temporary fix.
• State and local governments and certain private non-profits in 46 counties are eligible for Public Assistance reimbursement on a cost-share basis for debris removal, emergency protective measures taken to respond to the storm and additional categories of funding to repair or restore public infrastructure damaged by the hurricane.
• Disaster legal services are now available for victims of Hurricane Ivan through the Alabama Legal Hotline at 1-800-354-6154. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-noon; and 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
• Disaster officials are advising residents whose home and businesses were affected by Hurricane Ivan to be on the lookout for harmful mold. Contact your county health department for further information or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 1-800-438-4318.
• A disaster base camp run by the Alaska Incident Management Team (IMT) and Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team (IMT) in Escambia County has ceased operations after 18 days, having provided 900 meals and living quarters for as many as 300 relief workers daily.
• The Logistical Staging Area at Maxwell Air Force Base has ceased operations. Total life-sustaining commodities include:
  • Water -1.5 million gallons
  • Ice - 15 million pounds
  • MREs - 1.6 million
  • Tarps - More than 46,000 "self-help" tarps have been distributed to counties. Residents may contact their local emergency manager for pick-up sites.
• FEMA and the state of Alabama urge anyone with knowledge of fraud, waste or abuse relating to disaster contracts, programs or personnel to call the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) Fraud Hotline at 1-800-323-8603; for issues concerning consumer fraud, contact your local law enforcement agency or the Alabama Attorney General’s Consumer Affairs division at 1-800-392-5658.
• For more information on Hurricane Ivan disaster recovery, visit FEMA's website at www.fema.gov and the Alabama Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) disaster website at www.ema.alabama.gov.

SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries.

On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.