WASHINGTON (WSFA) – President Joe Biden has approved an emergency declaration for Alabama, authorizing federal disaster assistance to supplement response efforts for Hurricane Helene.

This enables the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate disaster relief efforts to alleviate storm-related hardships and provide appropriate assistance to protect people, property, public health and safety, and to reduce or avert the threat of a disaster.

Federal funding is available to state governments, tribal governments, eligible local governments, and certain nonprofit organizations. This federal aid applies to Barbour, Bullock, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Coffee, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, DeKalb, Etowah, Geneva, Henry, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lee, Limestone, Macon, Madison, Marshall, Morgan, Randolph, Russell and Tallapoosa Counties.

Federal emergency response funding, including direct federal assistance, is also available for Houston County.

Emergency response funding is also available, limited to direct federal assistance for Baldwin, Butler, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe and Washington counties.

Any impacts from Helene are expected to occur on the eastern side of the state along the Georgia border.

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