Morgan included in federal disaster declaration

April 17-- Apr. 17--Morgan County Emergency Management Agency Director Eddie Hicks said he was glad the county was included in a federal disaster declaration Wednesday that covered storms and flooding earlier this year.

President Donald Trump included Morgan and nine other north Alabama counties in the disaster declaration that will make local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations eligible for federal aid on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by storms, winds and flooding from Feb. 19 to March 20.

"We had flooding all over the county," Hicks said. "Decatur's Point Mallard, Hartselle and Lacey's Spring were probably the hardest hit, but all four districts reported damage. We knew we had enough damage, and we're excited we got the declaration."

Hicks said Morgan County reported $580,000 in storm and flood damage. He said the qualifying amount is $413,000. Limestone and Lawrence counties were not included in the disaster declaration.

"This is a step in the right direction that will help communities in north Alabama recover after the devastating flooding that hit the region earlier this year," U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, D-Birmingham, said in a statement.

The other counties included in the declaration are Cherokee, Colbert, DeKalb, Franklin, Jackson, Lamar, Madison, Marion and Winston.

-- mike.wetzel@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2442. Twitter @DD_Wetzel.

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