Disaster Aid Available In Two West Alabama Counties

Help is on the way for residents of two west Alabama counties hit by severe thunderstorms and tornadoes on Jan. 10.

Gov. Bob Riley said Monday the U.S. Small Business Administration will open a Disaster Loan Outreach Center on Tuesday at the Lamar County Jail Complex on County Road 9 in Vernon.

Residents of Lamar and Pickens counties can seek help for property damage resulting from the severe weather.

Loans of as much as $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged real estate. Homeowners and renters can receive as much as $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.

The National Weather Service reported three tornadoes moved across the state on Jan. 10 in a rare winter outbreak of severe weather, damaging or destroying structures in several communities.