Aderholt Tours Tornado Damage, Supports Relief Efforts of All Affected Alabama Communities

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Aderholt Tours Tornado Damage, Supports Relief Efforts of All Affected Alabama Communities
Encourages Efforts to be Focused on All Impacted Areas; Particularly Alabama’s Hard Hit Small and Rural Communities

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Homeland Security for the House Committee on Appropriations, issued the following statement today after spending the last two days surveying storm damage across North Alabama, meeting with relief effort officials and learning of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano and five other Cabinet Members brief fly-in stop in Birmingham tomorrow:

“These storms have brought an unprecedented amount of damage and devastation to North and central Alabama,” said Aderholt. “The Governor and state and local EMA officials have done a tremendous job in the preparation for the storm, and then the search and rescue portion of the aftermath. This is not a Katrina situation; the Governor was prepared and local EMA officials acted with unparalleled cooperation and coordination.”

“As we transition from the response to the recovery phase, Secretary Napolitano and FEMA Administrator Fugate have an opportunity to shine and to demonstrate what they have been telling me for months—that the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA are prepared not to make the mistakes of the past. FEMA has the professionals necessary to get the job done, but it will take real leadership to ensure that it is done quickly,” added Aderholt.

Unlike previous tests FEMA has faced in the current administration, the greatest amount of damage from this natural disaster has occurred in rural areas. Given that small towns are spread further apart and have fewer resources than their more urban counterparts in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, the response phase presents particular challenges.

“After personally meeting with Administrator Fugate earlier this week, I am confident FEMA is up to the challenge and will work diligently to restore a sense of normalcy to Alabamians, particularly those in our state’s rural communities,” added Aderholt.

“With Congress being out of session the last week, Aderholt spent the last few days traveling from the Mississippi to Georgia state lines, surveying damage in the tornado-ravaged communities of Alabama’s Fourth Congressional District, personally witnessing damage, meeting with victims and emergency management officials in Cullman, DeKalb, Franklin, Marion, Marshall, along with Jefferson and Tuscaloosa Counties.

“What strikes me is that I hear the same thing at every stop, regardless of the amount of devastation,” said Aderholt. “The people of Alabama are not sitting and waiting for the government to get the job done. Instead there are neighbors helping neighbors and strangers helping strangers get on the path of placing their lives back in order. As well as, churches providing food and shelter to communities large and small. Because of these efforts, FEMA in conjunction with the state EMA assets will have a great leg up in dealing with this disaster.”

Given the magnitude of the storm and geographic breadth covered, Aderholt called for patience during the recovery phase as Alabama Power, TVA, AT&T and other local utility providers work to restore service.

To begin the process of receiving federal assistance for disaster relief and recovery, those in need must first register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) by calling 1.800.621.FEMA (3362) or by visiting www.DisasterAssistance.gov. For additional useful disaster relief resources, visit Aderholt’s website www.aderholt.house.gov.