Times Daily | Homeland Security secretary visits local town

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano stood Sunday afternoon among the damage and promised the disaster is not forgotten by authorities in Washington, either.

“We want to make sure every area that got devastated is not forgotten, not only in the immediate term but in the long term,” Napolitano said.

She said officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is part of Homeland Security, plan to remain in Hackleburg, Phil Campbell and other areas affected by the storm for a long time.

“This will be a marathon, not a sprint,” Napolitano said. “We’re in it for the long haul.”

Napolitano, U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Ala., of Haleyville, and other national, state and local officials surveyed the damage and progress of recovery efforts.

She also stopped at a volunteer center to thank those who are donating their time and talked with local residents.

More than 10,000 people have volunteered, accumulating more than 40,000 hours of work in Hackleburg alone, according to Napolitano’s department. More than 120 projects are complete.

“We are proud to be part of a great team of state partners, local governments, faith-based groups, survivors, long-term community recovery organizations and volunteers who have worked around the clock to help with response and recovery efforts — and we will not leave until the job is finished,” Napolitano said. “The Obama administration remains focused on helping Hackleburg and communities throughout Alabama continue their progress toward rebuilding and recovering to be stronger than before.”

Aderholt said Napolitano wanted to see the damage to get a first-hand view of what happened. “To be able to see it on the ground is truly amazing,” he said. “What happened on April 27, if just one tornado occurred it would have been enough, but to have multiple tornadoes like this state did is an absolute nightmare.”

Aderholt said he sees signs of progress.

“We are on the road to recovery, and we are in it together,” he said. “I’m encouraged by the relief efforts that continue on the ground, as well as the coordination between all officials and organizations involved in the recovery process. I know Alabamians’ strength and resiliency will see us through, and Alabama will come back better than ever.”

He said he is working on a supplemental funding bill for 2012 that would provide $1 billion for disaster relief.

Aderholt said Napolitano came to Hackleburg, a town of 1,500 residents, to show she is not going to forget the smaller communities during the recovery effort. This is her second visit to Alabama since April 27. The first time, she went to Birmingham.

“It’s important to go to the larger metros but also the rural areas,” he said.

Art Faulkner, director of the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, said Operation Clean Sweep has been extended to July 12. He said it is possible the debris-removal program’s need could reach the point where extensions aren’t necessary. It simply would continue as long as needed.

Officials also urged victims to apply for assistance with FEMA. Mike Byrne, federal coordinating officer for FEMA in Alabama, stressed the importance of making sure all information is accurate, so it doesn’t get rejected. He also encourages residents to check with their insurance agents to find out what coverage they will provide. That information will be needed for a FEMA application.

Registration is available online at disasterassistance.gov or fema.gov or by calling 800-621-3362 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

Napolitano also chatted with Jessica Montgomery, this year’s valedictorian at Hackleburg High School, and Wynn Knowles, the school’s salutatorian.

“I wasn’t expecting somebody so high up to come here,” Montgomery later said. “I think that’s really something. It says a lot about her.”

The class of 2011, whose school was destroyed by the tornado, graduated Friday.

“It was really emotional,” Montgomery said. “I did better than I thought I would. I was glad we could have it on the football field.”

Knowles said Napolitano’s visit is an indicator progress is being made.

“It’s a sign of change, that the town is moving forward,” he said. “I’m very proud of the town. Everyone has come together.

“FEMA officials say we’re three weeks ahead of the rest of the state. That says a lot about this community.”

Napolitano wants Hackleburg to continue in that direction.

“Hang in there,” she said. “This is a strong, resilient community. They will come back. I’ve seen communities hit by storms like this come back from it.”

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