Governments officials estimate that Hurricane Sally caused $86 million of damage to taxpayer-funded property like roads, bridges and utility systems in Alabama, which FEMA is helping local governments pay to repair.
The federal agency said in a release that it expects to pay at least $64 million to local governments that have had to fix their public services in the wake of the September storm.
Funding for the repairs comes from FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) program, which enables the federal government to pay for a minimum of 75% of repair costs incurred by local governments during natural disasters.
FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer Allan Jarvis is in charge of the agency’s operations in Alabama.
“Public Assistance grants support the work that helps an entire community recover,” remarked Jarvis in a release.
FEMA says the PA money comes on top of $66 million the organization has spent aiding homeowners, renters and small businesses.
Baldwin, Mobile, Escambia and Conecuh counties, and the municipal governments within, have been approved as eligible for PA grants. Also eligible in the approved areas are state agencies and private nonprofit organizations that own or operate facilities that provide essential government-type services.
Public Assistance funding from FEMA is always given via reimbursement, allowing local governments to go ahead and undertake the projects necessary knowing they have federal backing.
According to the agency, categories of projects for which a local government might seek PA money are:
- Debris removal
- Clean up communities and repair bridges
- Put water systems and utilities back in order
- Repair hospitals and emergency services
- Rebuild schools and universities
- Restore damaged public parks so families can enjoy them again
“These are federal tax dollars coming back to Alabama to rebuild taxpayer-funded infrastructure,” Jarvis advised.
Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: [email protected] or on Twitter @HenryThornton95
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