HUD Approves $55 Million in Disaster Relief for Alabama

A $55 million federal grant for tornado recovery efforts awarded to Alabama in January has been recently approved by HUD. The disaster recovery plans detail how the state and specific communities will use the funding to rebuild from the damage sustained in the April 27, 2011, tornadoes.

HUD has allocated $24.69 million to be used statewide for long-term disaster recovery, including the hard-hit counties of DeKalb, Tuscaloosa, Marion, and Jefferson. In addition, HUD has allocated $16.6 million to the City of Tuscaloosa, $7.8 million to Jefferson County, and $6.38 million to the City of Birmingham for tornado recovery efforts.

The funding is provided through the Community Development Block Grant Program. The grant money is intended to be used for unmet housing, businesses, and infrastructure needs in the state that are not already being helped by public or private aid, according to HUD.