Nine Alabama counties and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians have been added to the list of entities that can seek reimbursement from FEMA for the costs of recovering from Hurricane Sally.

Barbour, Butler, Clarke, Coffee, Covington, Crenshaw, Geneva, Houston and Pike Counties join Baldwin, Conecuh, Escambia and Mobile as eligible for FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) program.

Public Assistance allows state, county and city governments — along with some charities that provide essential services — to have 75% of the costs they incur during recovery from natural disasters reimbursed by the federal government.

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey’s office advises that expenses FEMA can help pay for include “debris removal, emergency protective measures and the repair or restoration of public facilities such as roads, bridges, water control facilities, buildings, equipment, public utilities, parks and recreational facilities.”

FEMA announced earlier in the week that they expected to disburse $64 million in PA dollars among Baldwin, Mobile, Escambia and Conecuh counties.

The nine newly eligible counties are a result of an amended disaster declaration, the original version of which was signed on September 20.

Ivey issued a statement accompanying news of the amended order on Wednesday.

“As Alabama continues to recover following the devastating impacts from Hurricane Sally, I am pleased to continue working with FEMA to provide the necessary assistance to our citizens. I encourage Alabamians in these 13 counties to take advantage of this relief and again thank President Trump and his Administration for their continued support and partnership,” she remarked.

Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: henry@new-yhn.local or on Twitter @HenryThornton95