WASHINGTON D.C. — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to the state of Alabama and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding during the period of January 22-23, 2012.

Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Obama’s major disaster declaration issued for Alabama.

More coverage: Tornadoes Rip Through Alabama in January 2012

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Glynn Wilson

by Glynn Wilson

CLAY, Ala. – This lone portrait of Tinkerbell was about the only thing that survived from one demolished home in the Pilgrim’s Rest subdivision off Deerfoot Parkway in Clay after a series of freakish winter tornadoes ripped through the heart of Alabama early on the morning of Monday, January 23, killing at least two and injuring more than 100, according to official estimates. More than 200 homes were totally destroyed, according to the American Red Cross, while many more were heavily damaged from Oak Grove to Center Point, Clay and points east all the way to Springville.

(More photos below)
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More than $100 million in federal disaster assistance has been approved for survivors of the spring storms and tornadoes that swept across Alabama in late April.

The amount includes funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration to assist survivors who had storm-related losses between April 15 and May 31.

There is still time for survivors to register for possible federal disaster assistance. The deadline to register is Monday, June 27. People can register by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY 800-462-7585, or by visiting DisasterAssistance.gov.

“The funding that FEMA has approved so far is an incredible asset to assist survivors in our state,” said Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director Art Faulkner. “I strongly encourage all Alabamians who had storm damages to register with FEMA and return their SBA applications before next Monday’s deadline so we can be better assured of a full recovery.”

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The Alabama Department of Environmental Management and the Jefferson County Department of Health have declared an air quality alert for Friday-Monday in Central Alabama due to a projection of high ozone levels in the area.

The air will be unhealthy for sensitive groups due to a ridge of ozone directly over the Birmingham area, according to an e-mail blast.

The strong upper ridge will continue to stretch northeast from Mexico to the mid-Atlantic coastline to continue the abnormally hot conditions. PM2.5 will continue within the yellow range of the AQI while zzone climbs higher into the ORANGE range, ML.

Similar to the last few days, isolated showers are possible during the afternoon and evening, with winds remaining calm overnight, which will allow an inversion to develop and PM2.5 concentrations to increase into Friday. Winds during the day will be from the north around 5 mph, which will create some weak atmospheric mixing. The wildfires in the western end of Jefferson Co. should not pose a problem with a northerly wind flow.

There will be a chance of showers and thunderstorms in afternoon Saturday through Monday, although the forecast calls for sunny conditions, with a high in mid 90s and winds from the north and northeast around 5 mph. With continued dry conditions, smoke as a result of regional and local brush fires, and slight northerly winds will keep the AQI for PM2.5 the high yellow range for Saturday through Monday. The AQI for ozone on Saturday will remain in the orange range. JH

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The Alabama Department of Environmental Management and the Jefferson County Department of Health have declared an air quality alert for Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Central Alabama due to a projection of high ozone levels in the area.

The air will be unhealthy for sensitive groups due to a ridge of ozone directly over the Birmingham area, according to an e-mail blast.

The ridge axis moves slightly eastward to almost be directly over the area, so temperatures will still get into the upper 90s. Winds will be from the north at 5-10 mph, slightly stronger than the wind speeds on Thursday, which will create a bit more atmospheric mixing and slightly less hazy conditions. Scattered clouds will develop during the afternoon and evening hours, and there is a slight chance of a few small afternoon thunderstorms in the area.

Ozone will continue to be at alert level in the orange range, which is unhealthy for sensitive groups. PM2.5 will rise into the upper yellow range. ML

The alert has been extended to Saturday and Sunday, since the ridge will remain in firm control of the weather over the weekend. As a result, hot, humid, and hazy conditions will persist. Temperatures will be in the upper 90s with scattered clouds during the daytime. There is very small chance that an isolated shower or two develops on Sunday afternoon with a bit more instability present and a weaker cap on shower development.

During the day, winds will be northerly at 5-10 mph. However, winds will be calm during nights through mid mornings, which will allow PM2.5 to build up at the surface for extended periods. Ozone is expected to be in the orange range on Saturday, which is at alert level, and lower into the yellow range on Sunday. PM2.5 is expected to be in the mid to upper yellow range over the entire weekend. ML

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What Are the Facts?

Glynn Wilson

by Glynn Wilson

So, you’ve lived in the Southeastern United States your entire life, and you’ve never seen it so hot on the first day of June, ever? You ask yourself — why?

It couldn’t have anything to do with climate change due to human induced global warming, right, because your local newspaper, the local weatherman, Fox News, the Republican Party — and the Tea Party — all say there is “no such thing” as global warming. They say it as if it was a matter of belief, like the things you learn in Sunday School, instead of a matter of science, where evidence matters.

Or, maybe the average global temperature of the earth is a few degrees warmer than it was when the Baby Boomers were born in the 1950s, but there must be “no such thing” caused by humans, because so many people on the radio and television say it’s not so?

All this above average heat must just be part of god’s plan, maybe even his wrath, since people are such sinners? Or, conceding the global warming part but not the industrial causes, you might say perhaps it’s simply part of a natural cycle of nature?

Maybe, but not likely.

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The Atlantic basin is expected to see an above-normal hurricane season this year, according to the seasonal outlook issued by NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service.

Across the entire Atlantic Basin for the six-month season, which begins June 1, NOAA is predicting 12 to 18 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher). Of those, projected weather patterns and computer modeling indicates 6 to 10 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), and 3 to 6 could become major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of 111 mph or higher).

Each of these ranges has a 70 percent likelihood, and indicate that activity will exceed the seasonal average of 11 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.

“The United States was fortunate last year. Winds steered most of the season’s tropical storms and all hurricanes away from our coastlines,” said Dr. Jane Lubchenco, under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “However we can’t count on luck to get us through this season. We need to be prepared, especially with this above-normal outlook.”

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The Alabama Department of Environmental Management and the Jefferson County Department of Health have declared an air quality alert for Thursday in Central Alabama due to a projection of high ozone levels in the area.

The air will be unhealthy for sensitive groups due to a ridge of ozone directly over the Birmingham area, according to an e-mail blast.

An upper ridge will remain in place from Texas to the mid-Atlantic coastline. While a weak boundary will get near the area, a capped atmosphere and subsidence of the ridge will limit development to a stray storm or two. Temperatures will continue in the upper 90s with winds being very light.

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While survivors of Alabama’s April tornadoes work nonstop to recover from the devastation, many may also need to recover emotionally during trying times. Individuals often seek counsel from their family, friends or church during emotional distress.

While these support networks are very beneficial, survivors should be aware that additional help is available for those who feel mentally overwhelmed, exhausted or unable to cope.

The Alabama Department of Mental Health, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other federal, state, and local agencies have partnered to reactivate Project Rebound in the tornado affected parts of the state. Project Rebound is a federally funded initiative that groups in Alabama have instituted when a natural disaster occurs. Project Rebound Teams provide free crisis counseling for an extended time after a disaster.

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