FEMA Extends Disaster Assistance Deadline For Alabama Residents Affected by April Tornados, Flooding

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2014/06/ChurchRoof.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:448;s:4:"file";s:22:"2014/06/ChurchRoof.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:7:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:22:"ChurchRoof-336x251.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:251;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:22:"ChurchRoof-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"ChurchRoof-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:22:"ChurchRoof-417x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:417;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:22:"ChurchRoof-355x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:355;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:22:"ChurchRoof-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:22:"ChurchRoof-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Dan Carsen
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => WBHM
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:237953;s:14:"optimized_size";i:163568;s:7:"percent";d:31.260000000000002;}s:5:"sizes";a:9:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:50:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/06/ChurchRoof.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:86371;s:14:"optimized_size";i:53116;s:7:"percent";d:38.5;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:58:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/06/ChurchRoof-336x251.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:21846;s:14:"optimized_size";i:15958;s:7:"percent";d:26.949999999999999;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:58:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/06/ChurchRoof-600x338.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:51740;s:14:"optimized_size";i:37501;s:7:"percent";d:27.52;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:58:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/06/ChurchRoof-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:22631;s:14:"optimized_size";i:16577;s:7:"percent";d:26.75;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:58:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/06/ChurchRoof-417x311.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:31154;s:14:"optimized_size";i:22709;s:7:"percent";d:27.109999999999999;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:58:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/06/ChurchRoof-355x265.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:24211;s:14:"optimized_size";i:17707;s:7:"percent";d:26.859999999999999;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1657697572 
1403827200

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has extended the deadline for Alabama residents to register for assistance if they were affected by the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that hit the state in late April. Applications for assistance from both agencies are now due July 15, pushed back from the original July 1 deadline. The U.S. Small Business Administration has also moved its disaster loan deadline to July 15.

With over 40,000 Alabamians affected, the agencies combined have already approved over $35 million for residents affected by the storms.

“The tornadoes caused widespread damage in nine counties scattered around the state from the very southern tip around Mobile up to the state line,” says Greg Hughes, a Public Information Officer with FEMA.

Hughes says nine counties were directly affected by the storms: Baldwin, Blount, DeKalb, Etowah, Jefferson, Lee, Limestone, Mobile and Tuscaloosa. FEMA says any resident in those counties can apply for disaster assistance.

“Qualification just simply means that a family and their home sustained damage.” Hughes says. “Whether they had insurance or not we encourage them to apply anyway.” Of those nine counties, only five will be eligible for federal and state infrastructure assistance. Those counties are Jefferson, Lee, Limestone, Mobile, and Baldwin.

Two months after the disaster, FEMA says it’s made significant progress. FEMA’s website says staff have inspected more than 98 percent of damaged homes and properties in the area, and have approved more than $17 million in Housing Assistance Grants. Those grants help with rental expenses, home repair costs, and other disaster-related needs, such as medical expenses and lost personal possessions.

The U.S. Small Business Administration also has a program that gives loans to non-business-owners in declared disaster areas. Since Alabama was declared a disaster area at the beginning of May, the SBA has awarded $10 million in low-interest loans to eligible homeowners, renters, or businesses.

“Our program is designed for people who are underinsured or have no insurance,” says John Oliver Fredrick, SBA Public Affairs Specialist. “FEMA will get you safe, sanitary, and secure. They are not going to rebuild your house, but we will try to get you back into the state you were pre-disaster.”

The SBA offers loans of up to $200,000 to repair damaged real estate and other destroyed property including cars and rental properties. The SBA tacks on a low interest rate to help pay the loan back over time.

FEMA and SBA recommend impacted homeowners apply for both FEMA disaster grants and SBA disaster loans. Each agency can help in different ways. Fredrick says that if SBA cannot help you, staff will send you to FEMA for assistance.

 

Poland’s Iga Świątek thrashes American Amanda Anisimova in Wimbledon women’s final

The Polish player emerged victorious after less than an hour of gameplay.

Israeli settlers beat U.S. citizen to death in West Bank

A 21-year-old Florida man was beaten to death by Israeli settlers while visiting family in the West Bank.

FEMA removed dozens of Camp Mystic buildings from 100-year flood map before expansion, records show

Federal regulators repeatedly granted appeals to remove Camp Mystic's buildings from their 100-year flood map, loosening oversight as the camp operated and expanded in a dangerous flood plain.

In Myanmar, a rush for rare earth metals is causing a regional environmental disaster

A drastic increase in unregulated production of rare earth minerals in Myanmar is causing serious environmental concerns downriver in Thailand, as China's influence in the sector looms large.

No playing Spanish-language music: Many immigrants say they have new rules for driving

As the Trump administration's crackdown continues, traffic stops have become increasingly important tools of enforcement. It has led many immigrants to take alternate modes of transportation.

In the Texas flood zone, volunteers help reunite lost pets with their owners

Hundreds of pets have been reported missing after the devastating floods in central Texas. Volunteers have been combing through debris to help reunite them with their owners.

More Government Coverage