DRCs serve as one-stop information centers and offer disaster victims a chance to talk face-to-face with recovery specialists, as well as state and local volunteer organizations who can provide additional assistance or help with immediate unmet needs for disaster victims.
Anyone affected by Hurricane Katrina, including out-of-state evacuees, can visit any DRC to ask about federal/state individual assistance programs such as low-interest disaster loans available from the U.S. Small Business Administration for homeowners, renters and businesses.
The DRCs opening in Baldwin County, Monday, September 3, 2005 at 7 a.m., are:
| Baldwin County Bay Minette Fire Station #2 603 Hwy 31 South Bay Minette, AL |
Baldwin County Long Term Recovery Center 21955 Hibbing Lane Robertsdale, AL |
Baldwin County Fairhope Gymnasium 801 North Greeno Road Fairhope, AL |
All DRCs are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.
Before visiting any Recovery Center, disaster victims are urged to call FEMA’s toll-free application number 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or for the speech- or hearing-impaired 1 800 462 7585 (TTY). The toll-free telephone numbers are available 24-hours a day, seven days a week until further notice. Multilingual operators are available at these numbers to assist disaster victims. Applications for assistance can also be completed online at http://www.fema.gov.
Written materials about various assistance programs are also available to individuals and business owners along with information about mitigation steps that individuals can take in rebuilding to reduce the risk of future disaster loss or damage.
| Baldwin County Bay Minette Fire Station #2 603 Hwy 31 South Bay Minette, AL Long Term Recovery Center 21955 Hibbing Lane Robertsdale, AL Fairhope Gymnasium 801 North Greeno Fairhope, AL |
Mobile County Bayou La Batre Methodist Church Fellowship Hall 12700 Padgett Switch Road Bayou La Batre, AL |
Washington County Woodman of the World Lodge 18051 Jordon Street Chatom, AL |
Individuals and business owners can apply online at www.fema.gov or call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). The TTY number for those with speech or hearing impairments is 1-800-462-7585. The Web site and toll-free numbers can be used to also check on the status of an application or update applicant information.
Those who have access to the Internet are encouraged to use the online “Individual Assistance Center” at www.fema.gov to alleviate congestion on the phone lines. The Web site is available 24/7. Applicants can review their application and update it with any new information, whether they applied by phone or through the Web site.
Loan applications to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
for disaster-related losses to real and personal property and
businesses of all sizes must also be submitted by the Sept. 8 deadline.
SBA officials encourage anyone who has received a disaster loan
application to turn it in as soon as possible. Failure to complete and
return your SBA home loan application will stop consideration for other
assistance programs, including additional grants.
September 3, 2005
Alabama Hurricane Katrina Disaster Recovery Center to
Open
Montgomery, Ala. -- The first Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in Southwest Alabama will open in Bayou La Batre at noon on Friday, officials from the Alabama Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) and the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today. This is the first of several centers that will open in Alabama to provide information to those who have suffered damage from Hurricane Katrina.
The DRC for Bayou La Batre will be located at:
Bayou La Batre Methodist Church Fellowship Hall
12700 Padgett Switch Road
Friday, Sept. 2, 12 noon to 7 p.m.
Daily thereafter: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Before visiting the Recovery Center, disaster victims are urged to call FEMA’s toll-free application number 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or for the speech- or hearing-impaired 1 800 462 7585 (TTY). The toll-free telephone numbers are available 24-hours a day, seven days a week until further notice, and multilingual operators are available to assist disaster victims. Persons can also apply for assistance online at http://www.fema.gov.
This and future DRCs will serve as a one-stop information centers and offer disaster victims a chance to talk face-to-face with federal recovery specialists, as well as state and local volunteer organizations who can provide additional assistance or help with immediate unmet needs for disaster victims.
FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages the federal response and recovery efforts following an incident of national significance. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, workers with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
| |
| ROUTE | STATUS | COUNTY | LOCATION | REASON | POSTED |
| AL 180 | Closed | Baldwin | From Fort Morgan to MP 6 | Debris in roadway | 8/30/2005 16:36 |
| AL 59 | Closed | Baldwin | From SR 180 South to Beach Road | Debris over roadway | 8/30/2005 16:33 |
| SR-69 | Advisory | Marengo | M.P. 44.7 near Clarke/Marengo County Line | Trees and power lines across roadway. | 8/30/2005 13:43 |
| SR 171 | Advisory | Tuscaloosa | Between MP 3 and MP 12 | Roadway open, but power lines down | 8/30/2005 11:23 |
| SR 7 (U.S. 11) | Closed | Tuscaloosa | Near B F Goodrich Tire Plant (appox. MP 71) | Roadway blocked with tree/power lines down | 8/30/2005 11:22 |
| SR 69 North | Closed | Tuscaloosa | Between MP 168 and MP 177, Co. Rd. 38 to Co. Rd. 46 | Roadway closed - trees down with power lines | 8/30/2005 11:20 |
| SR 56 | Advisory | Washington | From Mississippi state line to U.S. 43 | Trees down along roadway at a number of locations. Drive with caution | 8/30/2005 05:59 |
| I-10 EB and WB | Advisory | Mobile | I-10 at Wallace Tunnels in Mobile | Proceed through I-10 Wallace Tunnels with caution. One lane open in each direction. Hazardous cargo is prohibited through Wallace Tunnels. Hazardous cargo detour is along SR 59 and I-65 due to closing of Cochrane Bridge. | 8/30/2005 04:18 |
| SR-17 | Advisory | Choctaw | From Washington/Choctaw County line to Butler. | Trees and power lines down at a number of locations along roadway. Drive with caution | 8/29/2005 23:52 |
| SR-5 | Advisory | Wilcox | Pine Hill | Signal Out | 8/29/2005 23:10 |
| SR-17 | Advisory | Washington | From U.S. 45 to Choctaw County Line | Trees and power lines down along roadway at a number of locations. Traffic signals out in Chatom at SR-56. Drive with caution. | 8/29/2005 23:08 |
| US-84 | Advisory | Choctaw | From Mississippi State line to Grove Hill | Trees and power lines down at a number of locations along roadway. Drive with caution. | 8/29/2005 22:46 |
| SR-154 | Closed | Clarke | From 4 mi. East of SR 69 (MP 4)to 17 miles West of US 43 (MP 12) | Trees in RDWY | 8/29/2005 22:09 |
| US 98 | Closed | Mobile | Cochrane-Africatown USA Bridge | ALDOT is currently inspecting the bridge for possible structural damage. | 8/29/2005 22:01 |
| U.S. 45 | Advisory | Washington | From SR-17 to Mississippi state line. | Trees down along roadway at a number of locations. Drive with caution | 8/29/2005 21:29 |
| I-10 & US 90 | Advisory | Mobile | Approaching Mississippi Stateline Westbound | Extensive damages to I-10 and US 90 in MS due to Hurricane Katrina. BOTH Roadways in MS CLOSED. Seek alternate routes. | 8/29/2005 20:59 |
| SR-69 | Advisory | Clarke | From U.S. 43 at Jackson north to Marengo County line. | Trees down along roadway at a number of locations. Drive with caution | 8/29/2005 18:47 |
| ALL ROUTES | Open | Conecuh | ALL ROUTES OPEN. | 8/29/2005 17:25 | |
| ALL ROUTES | Open | Escambia | ALL ROUTES OPEN | 8/29/2005 17:24 | |
| SR-17 | Advisory | Sumter | From U.S. 11 to Pickens County line. | Trees down along roadway at a number of locations. Drive with caution. | 8/29/2005 17:11 |
| Welcome Center I-59/20 | Closed | Sumter | I-59/20 @ Miss. State Line | Closed due to Power Outage | 8/29/2005 14:25 |
| US 98 | Open | Baldwin | AT AL 104 | ROAD HAS BEEN REOPENED. | 8/29/2005 13:37 |
| US 90/98 | Closed | Baldwin | CAUSEWAY | WATER OVER THE ROAD. | 8/29/2005 04:48 |
| AL 182 | Closed | Baldwin | GULF SHORES | CLOSED DUE TO WATER AND DEBRIS OVER ROADWAY. | 8/28/2005 23:34 |
| AL 193 | Advisory | Mobile | BETWEEN AL 188 AND DAUPHIN ISLAND | Roadway is open with pilot car assistance | 8/28/2005 20:09 |
| AL 44 | Closed | Marion | AL 44 at MP 6.4 just east of Corridor X - US 78 | Road closed due to earth slide. | 4/8/2004 11:46 |
CLANTON – Governor Bob Riley on Sunday ordered the evacuation of residents south of Interstate 10 in Mobile County and in low lying areas of Baldwin County due to the significant threat posed by Hurricane Katrina. The evacuation for areas in Baldwin County went into effect at 1:00 p.m. and the evacuation order for those south of I-10 in Mobile County went into effect at 1:30 p.m.
“I’ve discussed this with local officials and we’re in agreement that this evacuation is necessary to save lives,” said Governor Riley. “That’s our number one priority. The primary threat posed by Hurricane Katrina is going to be flooding from storm surge, so those being evacuated just need to make sure they reach higher ground. They won’t have to travel as far as they did during hurricanes Ivan or Dennis because that threat was primarily strong winds.”
<>In Baldwin County, the order calls for the evacuation of those on Plash Island, the Fort Morgan peninsula, and all areas south of Fort Morgan Road for Gulf Shores. The order also calls for the evacuation of those living in Perdido Key and south of Perdido Beach Boulevard. Those in all low lying and flood prone areas south of I-10 in Baldwin County and those living along the Mobile Bay Area and other water inlets also fall under the evacuation order
CLANTON - Governor Bob Riley on Sunday declared an official state of emergency in Alabama due to the imminent threat posed by Hurricane Katrina. The emergency declaration enables the Governor to invoke various emergency preparedness measures including Alabama’s price gouging law.
In addition, Governor
Riley also asked President Bush to issue an “expedited major disaster
declaration” for six counties in the southwestern part of Alabama as
Hurricane Katrina continued its approach.
The six counties are: Mobile, Baldwin, Washington, Clarke,
Choctaw and Sumter. Other counties could be added later.
“Based upon current information, these counties are likely to receive the most significant damage in Alabama from the hurricane,” Governor Riley said.
“The state is estimating cost figures in the excess of several million dollars. As soon as conditions allow, the state will be requesting post-disaster damage assessment assistance,” the Governor wrote in his request to the President.
A federal disaster declaration would open up a number of different types of federal resources for the state. Under a federal declaration, storm victims would be able to apply for various types of assistance measures including temporary housing assistance, individual family grants, loans and grants to repair homes and businesses, and disaster unemployment assistance.
Alabama’s price gouging law applies only during times of a state of emergency issued by the Governor.
“Those who engage in price gouging will be punished to the fullest extent of the law,” Governor Riley warned.
Governor Riley and Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director Bruce Baughman have been in close contact with local emergency management officials in counties throughout the state to discuss storm preparations.
“The track from the National Weather Service this morning shows Katrina’s most serious impact will most likely be in Louisiana and Mississippi, so I spoke with Governor Barbour and Governor Blanco to let them know Alabama is prepared to offer any assistance their citizens may need,” said Governor Riley. “However, should the hurricane change course and head in our direction, the state of Alabama is ready and prepared to deal with this serious storm. Our agencies are on standby and are closely monitoring this situation.”
Governor Riley said decisions about possibly declaring a state of emergency in Alabama and other emergency measures will be made later today as Hurricane Katrina’s course is updated.
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Advisory
Situation Reports from The HSUS Disaster Center
President
Arrives in Alabama, Briefed on Hurricane Katrina
Mobile Regional Airport
Mobile, Alabama
September 2, 2005 10:35 A.M. CDT
THE PRESIDENT: Well, first I want to say a few things. I am incredibly proud of our Coast Guard. We have got courageous people risking their lives to save life. And I want to thank the commanders and I want to thank the troops over there for representing the best of America.
I want to congratulate the governors for being leaders. You didn't ask for this, when you swore in, but you're doing a heck of a job. And the federal government's job is big, and it's massive, and we're going to do it. Where it's not working right, we're going to make it right. Where it is working right, we're going to duplicate it elsewhere. We have a responsibility, at the federal level, to help save life, and that's the primary focus right now. Every life is precious, and so we're going to spend a lot of time saving lives, whether it be in New Orleans or on the coast of Mississippi.
We have a responsibility to help clean up this mess, and I want to thank the Congress for acting as quickly as you did. Step one is to appropriate $10.5 billion. But I've got to warn everybody, that's just the beginning. That's a small down payment for the cost of this effort. But to help the good folks here, we need to do it.
We are going to restore order in the city of New Orleans, and we're going to help supplement the efforts of the Mississippi Guard and others to restore order in parts of Mississippi. And I want to thank you for your strong statement of zero tolerance. The people of this country expect there to be law and order, and we're going to work hard to get it. In order to make sure there's less violence, we've got to get food to people. And that's a primary mission, is to get food to people. And there's a lot of food moving. And now the -- it's one thing to get it moving to a station, it's the next thing to get it in the hands of the people, and that's where we're going to spend a lot of time focusing.
We've got a lot of rebuilding to do. First, we're going to save lives and stabilize the situation. And then we're going to help these communities rebuild. The good news is -- and it's hard for some to see it now -- that out of this chaos is going to come a fantastic Gulf Coast, like it was before. Out of the rubbles of Trent Lott's house -- he's lost his entire house -- there's going to be a fantastic house. And I'm looking forward to sitting on the porch. (Laughter.)
GOVERNOR RILEY: He'll be glad to have you.
THE PRESIDENT: Out of New Orleans is going to come that great city again. That's what's going to happen. But now we're in the darkest days, and so we got a lot of work to do. And I'm down here to thank people. I'm down here to comfort people. I'm down here to let people know that we're going to work with the states and the local folks with a strategy to get this thing solved.
Now, I also want to say something about the compassion of the people of Alabama and Mississippi and Louisiana and surrounding states. I want to thank you for your compassion. Now is the time to love a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourselves.
Governor Riley announced the fact that they're going to open up homes in military bases for stranded folks. And that's going to be very important and helpful.
My dad and Bill Clinton are going to raise money for governors' funds. The governors of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama will have monies available to them to help deal with the long-term consequences of this storm.
The faith-based groups and the community-based groups throughout this part of the world, and the country for that matter, are responding. If you want to help, give cash money to the Red Cross and the Salvation Army. That's where the first help will come. There's going to be plenty of opportunities to help later on, but right now the immediate concern is to save lives and get food and medicine to people so we can stabilize the situation.
Again, I want to thank you all for -- and, Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job. The FEMA Director is working 24 -- (applause) -- they're working 24 hours a day.
Again, my attitude is, if it's not going exactly right, we're going to make it go exactly right. If there's problems, we're going to address the problems. And that's what I've come down to assure people of. And again, I want to thank everybody.
And I'm not looking forward to this trip. I got a feel for it when I flew over before. It -- for those who have not -- trying to conceive what we're talking about, it's as if the entire Gulf Coast were obliterated by a -- the worst kind of weapon you can imagine. And now we're going to go try to comfort people in that part of the world.
Thank you. (Applause.)
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