The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to the state of Alabama and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding during the period of January 22-23, 2012.

Remodeling sentiment rose to the highest level in five years, according to the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Remodeling Market Index (RMI) for the fourth quarter of 2011. The RMI increased to 46.6 in the fourth quarter from 41.7 in the third quarter.

All remodelers, contractors, kitchen and bath specialists, and other remodeling industry professionals in Alabama are invited to register now for the 2012 Alabama Remodeling Excellence Awards (AREA) competition, presented by the HBAA Remodelers.

HBAA members have until Thursday, January 26 to reserve rooms at a discounted rate for the 2012 Alabama’s Better Living Expo (ABLE) and HBAA Winter Meeting. Both events will take place February 27-29 at the Montgomery Renaissance Hotel & Convention Center in Montgomery.