President Trump Approves Emergency Disaster Declaration for Alabama Counties Following Hurricane Michael

MONTGOMERY, Alabama, Oct. 13 -- Gov. Kay Ivey, R-Alabama, issued the following news release:

In response to Governor Kay Ivey's request on October 11th, President Donald Trump approved an Emergency Disaster Declaration for the state of Alabama, as a result of Hurricane Michael. The Federal Emergency Management Agency Public Assistance Program will provide assistance under category B to Alabama counties.

"I greatly appreciate President Trump approving our request for federal assistance. Alabama has suffered damage, but we have also stepped in to help our neighbors," Governor Ivey said. "This assistance will help us recover some of the cost of response and recovery efforts conducted by the state and local governments. This will be a huge benefit to the smaller communities in Alabama that have been affected."

Alabama has received a Federal Emergency Declaration for the state and the following counties: Dale, Geneva, Henry, and Houston. The Emergency Declaration is to help local and state governments cover costs associated with preparing and responding to Hurricane Michael.

Under the Public Assistance Program, assistance will be provided at 75 percent federal funding for approved costs related to the storm.

"Working together with our federal partners is an important part of helping Alabamians move back to some sense of normalcy when impacted by a storm like Hurricane Michael," Alabama EMA Director Brian Hastings said. "We are extremely thankful that although Hurricane Michael was a historic storm our state did not encounter any loss of life."

The Alabama Emergency Management Agency is working with all impacted areas to assess damages in order to possibly qualify for additional assistance to aid in the repairs to infrastructure and the collection and disposal of debris.