No FEMA Assistance for Montgomery County Flood Victims
Old Hayneville Road residents are still cleaning up after the Christmas storms. But they still won't get assistance from FEMA.
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Ripped up carpet and ruined furniture. The rain that flooded Cornelia Robinson’s home Christmas Eve was a gift she had rather not received.
“It comes in from each side. So it flooded my whole house. And you’re trying to get all the water taken care of and its hard to do. You can’t do it and it all comes in and what you have to do is wait til the rain stops,” said Robinson.
Robinson isn’t the only one impacted by the flooding. Officials say 29 homes had major damage in the Old Hayneville Road area. Fifty had minor damage and 6 to 8 were destroyed.
“We’re talking about 6 to 8 inches of water. For it not to be a creek or anything around, just Mother Nature, you can’t prepare for that,” said Alonza Johnson.
Officials say it’s a drainage problem and there isn’t a lot of help they can get.
“It’s bad out here. We’re in between and can’t get flood insurance, not a flood zone,” said Robinson.
What’s worse, Montgomery County was not able to be included with the governor’s request for FEMA’s assistance because it didn’t meet the criteria. It’s one reason Congresswoman Terri Sewell and others are taking a look at the damage and trying to meet their needs. Sewell says their may be small business loans available.
“My hope is we can get additional federal assistance other than SBA loans. Pleased to say we do have SBA low interest loans that will be available to all those affected by the flooding but would love to see it we can get public assistance as well,” said Sewell.
EMA director Calvin Brown says it will have to be a joint effort to help the Hayneville community get back on its feet. But he is sure it will happen.
“Montgomery is a resilient place. Even though its devastation, we’re going to get through it and make our way through it do what we have to do to survive,” said Brown.
