Cities fighting to receive funding for public storm cleanup

Cities fighting to receive funding for public storm cleanup

Some Alabama cities could be left the costs of tornado cleanup. Thursday, State EMA Director Art Faulkner gave a briefing to state lawmakers about the state's efforts to get an disaster declaration for cities to be reimbursed for the work.

"We are still assessing that. We take it very seriously. We know the impact if having locals and the state pick up the cost of the disaster," Faulkner said.

Faulkner told the group the state is at 92 percent of the threshold to get federal aid from FEMA for public clean up assistance. But after President Barack Obama has declared a disaster declaration for individual assistance for homeowners.Center Point Mayor Tom Henderson, whose city was hit by the tornado, says he hopes to get the money.

"The declaration is for individual assistance not public assistance. We got no money to help at this point, that I know of, to help with the debris cleanup," Henderson said.

Trussville Mayor Gene Melton says he is not waiting.

"We are doing everything, we like the President has already came out and declared. So we will be in the position to get assistance, so we won't miss anything," Melton said.

Still if Alabama comes up short, Faulkner says the state is prepared to step in and help.

"If we don't then the governor is prepared as in other disasters to assist where we can," Faulkner said.

Federal aid will be needed, if only because the state of Alabama and Jefferson County are facing money problems.

"This reiterates the need Jefferson County has because right now we have so little we can't do a whole lot to help our cities," Joe Knight, Jefferson Co. Commissioner said.

"We already have a shortfall in the General fund budget. So I don't know where we will get it right now candidly," Rep. Paul DeMarco of Homewood said.

Faulkner says he hopes to hear by next week if the federal government will issue a disaster declaration for public assistance. They can contact FEMA immediately at 1-800-621-3362.

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