State announces 2011 tornado disaster relief funding for counties

Published: Thursday, September 6, 2012 at 7:08 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, September 6, 2012 at 7:09 p.m.

MONTGOMERY ? Northeast Alabama home owners may be eligible for up to $25,000 in financial assistance for their tornado damage in 2011.

Jim Byard, director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, on Thursday said eligible owners of single-family homes in 30 tornado-stricken counties can get up to $25,000 to help them recover from the April 2011 tornadoes.

The money can be used to repair or even help replace a home.

Byard said Alabama has up to $8 million for homeowners in 30 counties. ?Although it has been nearly a year-and-a -half since these storms struck, many Alabamians are still hurting and need help,? he said at a news conference.

The Alabama Rural Coalition for the Homeless in Montgomery is the contact organization for homeowners in Cherokee, DeKalb, Etowah, Marshall and St. Clair counties who had tornado damage or destruction and have not been able to get any other type of aid.

?We provide service for Alabamians in need,? said ARCH Executive Director Felicia Watkins-Jackson. ?We?re able to help survivors with unmet needs.?

Jackson said as many as 200 to 300 homeowners may be eligible for aid in her territory that includes central Alabama counties as well.

She said efforts are under way to work with agencies in Northeast Alabama to find eligible homeowners. Currently anyone interested can call toll free at 1-888-241-1266 or by dialing 211 and follow the prompts.

Priority will be given to low-income, elderly and disabled, households with children and displaced persons, Byard said.

Applicants will not get money, but their repair or home replacement needs will be disbursed by ADECA.

Applicants will need to prove they owned a residence that was damaged by the April 2011 tornadoes, and to show their income and verify they have not received any other type of funding or reimbursement to fix or replace their structure.

Byard said 253 people died and 2,200 were injured by the April 27, 2011, tornadoes. He said 6,237 houses and 1,275 mobile homes were destroyed.

Source: http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/20120906/news/120909875

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