EDITORIAL: Thanks for the assistance, Washington

April 27--The White House told us Thursday what we already knew: that a "major disaster exists in the state of Alabama" following the March 19 tornadoes that splintered trees and crumpled buildings along a wide swath that stretches out toward the Georgia state line.

That's not a veiled criticism, by the way. We're ecstatic that President Trump has ordered federal assistance for the Alabamians in Calhoun and surrounding counties whose homes and businesses were damaged -- or completely destroyed. Given the overwhelming amount of damage in Jacksonville, Southside, Nances Creek, Wellington and Angel -- not to mention locations to the west -- it would have been a shock had the Trump White House not approved federal money for cleanup and rebuilding efforts.

Local and state officials have told The Star that the affected areas easily surpassed the $7 million threshold needed for consideration for federal relief. The current estimate -- nearly $36 million of damage not covered by insurance in four storm-hit counties -- illustrates how peoples' lives were profoundly altered last month.

Every roof covered with blue tarpaulins is a family needing money to repair their home.

Every car smashed by fallen trees is an Alabamian now without reliable transportation.

Every Alabamian who lost their belongings, or their apartment, or their job because of the tornadoes illustrates the human toll from the March storms.

Everything in Washington drips in politics, even the disaster responses from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Critics pilloried FEMA's Hurricane Katrina efforts during President George W. Bush's tenure, and rightly so. The massive storms that in recent years have hit the Northeast (Superstorm Sandy), Houston (Hurricane Harvey) and Puerto Rico (Hurricane Maria) have earned similar versions of critical shame. Washington's modern efforts during Mother Nature's worst attacks haven't fared particularly well.

Our hope is twofold: One, that residents and business owners will quickly contact FEMA to see what assistance applies to them (online at disasterassistance.gov; by phone at 1-800-621-FEMA); and two, that local and state officials will shepherd Alabamians through this process whenever they hit a snag, which many invariably will.

Government processes are mindbogglingly difficult even in stress-free times, which this is not. We expect headaches and frustration. But we're nonetheless pleased that Washington acknowledged that if there's ever a time for federal disaster relief in Alabama, it's now.

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