Alabama delegation urges Trump to approve disaster declaration after Isaias

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - Alabama’s congressional delegation is asking President Donald Trump to grant Gov. Kay Ivey’s request for a major disaster declaration following Hurricane Isaias.

Gov. Kay Ivey submitted the request on Friday, asking the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help cover eligible hurricane-related costs for governments and certain nonprofits, state officials said. The request also seeks individual assistance, which, if approved, could help provide support to households affected by the hurricane.

On Saturday, U.S. Sen. Katie Britt and members of the state legislature submitted a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to “act quickly”:

“We write in strong support of Governor Kay Ivey’s request for a major disaster declaration for the State of Alabama following Hurricane Isaias, and we respectfully urge you to approve it without delay. Thank you for your swift approval of an emergency declaration for Alabama as the storm approached. That early action made a real difference for our people, and your continued partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency remains critical as our communities begin to rebuild.”

Alabama U.S. Reps. Terri Sewell and Shomari Figures have also voiced support for the governor’s request.

“I agree with Governor Ivey that a Major Disaster Declaration is essential to provide the federal assistance necessary to support our hardest-hit communities,” Rep. Sewell said. “I am calling on the president to approve this request as soon as possible. The people of Alabama are resilient, and together we will rebuild our communities stronger than ever.”

The president can declare a major disaster for any natural event, regardless of the cause, if he determines the event has caused damage beyond the combined capabilities of state and local governments to handle.

A major disaster declaration provides access to a wide range of federal assistance programs for people and infrastructure, including funds for both emergency and permanent work.

Counties currently included in the request are Baldwin, Barbour, Butler, Choctaw, Clarke, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Dallas, Escambia, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lowndes, Marengo, Monroe, Perry, Pike, Sumter, Washington, and Wilcox.

Damage assessments are ongoing, and other counties may be added to the request if applicable, officials said.

Not reading this story on the WSFA News App? Get news alerts FASTER and FREE in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store!