Elba flood victims start 2016 with cleanup, repairs
Roughly 140 homes and 2 businesses were damaged in Elba by flooding (Source: WSFA 12 News)
By Lindsey Rogers
ELBA, AL (WSFA)
Local, state and federal agencies continue working to bring aid to Elba and other counties ravaged by flood waters and severe weather.
Many Elba residents did not expect to ring in 2016 by dealing with disaster, but as they try to recover, efforts are ramping up to get them assistance.
Nearly 140 homes and two businesses were damaged by flooding.
There was no time for parties or relaxing on New Year’s Day on Smith Avenue, just the sights and sounds of ongoing cleanup.
It’s a soggy process of clearing out debris and water and damaged belongings. Debra Nicholson joined family and friends to work on her 89-year-old mother-in-law’s house, which was destroyed.
“She’s been in here for years. This is the fifth flood they’ve been through. This is the second time it’s actually come in the house. This time, it got 17 inches in the upper part and it’s a mess. It smells terrible. The furniture is ruined. The walls are ruined. Everything is just ruined,” she said. “We’ve just been busy working. You go to bed tired. It’s just been overwhelming.”
As they deal with the havoc the final days of 2015 wreaked on their lives, Elba officials and residents are taking the good with the bad as they begin 2016.
“Compared to the other floods, this is a whole lot different because the levee held. The Corps of Engineers did a great job in developing the levy for this,” said Elba Mayor Mickey Murdock.
“One thing I’ve seen that’s different this time than in floods past, if that the people I’ve talked to as a realtor who are looking for replacement housing are wanting to stay in Elba. They’re not wanting to leave town,” said Tim Johnson with Johnson Realty in Elba.
The community continues to rally around the city. On Friday, a team of Lowe’s employees from the Enterprise store delivered 75 buckets filled with cleaning supplies to the Elba Church of Christ, which is being used as a donation hub for flood victims.
On Tuesday, the Lowe’s store team plans to go back to Elba to help residents out clear debris and clean up their properties.
Meanwhile, the state is compiling information to submit to the federal government in the form a request for a Major Disaster Declaration.
At the request of Governor Robert Bentley, Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director Art Faulkner asked FEMA and the Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide personnel to conduct joint damage assessments as a result of flooding and severe weather over the last seven days.
While some areas will be assessable early next week, it may be later before water recedes and other areas are assessable. All areas must be accessed before a determination can be made at the federal level. The process could take up to three weeks; however, if Governor Bentley’s request is granted it may shorten the timeframe in which federal assistance could be available.
While the City of Elba hopes federal assistance becomes available soon, local resources through the volunteer and donation centers, with support from donations by business, industry and individuals, continue to help as residents try to get things back to normal.
“I hope that she can get back home and get on with her life,” Debra Nicholson said of her mother-in-law. “And I hope that we won’t have any more floods.”
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