Governor Bentley Announces Macon County to Receive $1.1 Million in FEMA Funding

MONTGOMERY – Governor Robert Bentley announced Friday that Macon County was awarded $1,131,052.06 in funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Public Assistance Program in response to severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding that entered Alabama on Thursday, December 25, 2015.  The event subsided on December 31, 2015, after producing significant rainfall, tornadoes, and flooding across the state of Alabama.

“Today’s announcement means that the residents of Macon County can soon get their lives back to normal after the Christmas holiday storms and flooding that occurred there,” Governor Bentley said. “Infrastructure is a vital part of everyday life and the economy, especially in rural Alabama. I am glad that the impacted infrastructure will now be repaired so that residents will once again have safe roadways for their daily travels.”

The purpose of the funding is to make road and bridge repairs to areas in Macon County impacted by flooding.  Eligible road work includes repairs to surfaces, bases, shoulders, ditches, culverts, low water crossings, and other features, such as guardrails. Repairs necessary as the result of normal deterioration are considered pre-disaster damage and not eligible. Eligible work for bridges includes decking and pavement, piers, girders, abutments, slope protection, and approaches.

“We are thankful that counties like Macon are able to recoup some of the cost incurred by the county as a result of natural disasters,” said Art Faulkner, Director of the Alabama Emergency Management Agency.  “Macon County has worked extremely hard to quickly repair the damages to their road and bridge infrastructure.  We are pleased to assist them in getting this financial assistance.”

In addition to the Public Assistance funding, Alabama Counties and Municipalities are eligible for and have received disaster assistance through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMPG) to help with the installation of Safe Rooms throughout Alabama.  The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program provides grants to States and local governments to implement long‐term hazard mitigation measures after a major disaster declaration.