The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) this week announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to the state of Alabama to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding during the period of April 24-25, 2010.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in DeKalb and Marshall counties.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding in DeKalb and Marshall counties.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

W. Michael Moore has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area. Moore said that damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are fully completed.

FEMA said that residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can apply for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.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).

For information about hiring a contractor to help repair storm damage, visit our Disaster Resource Center.