Federal Emergency Management Agency Deputy Administrator Erik A. Hooks will visit Alabama on Tuesday to meet with state and local officials about ongoing response and recovery efforts following the deadly tornadoes that swept across the state last week.
While here, Hooks will also travel to Autauga and Dallas counties to survey damage caused by the storms, according to a FEMA press release. The storms killed seven people.
Hooks also will hold a media availability in Selma at 3 p.m. at the Dallas County EMA to discuss assistance FEMA is providing to the state and survivors impacted by this disaster.
Meeting with him during the trip will be Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director Jeff Smitherman; U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL); Selma Mayor James Perkins, Jr.; Dallas County Emergency Management Director Toya Stiles-Crusoe; Autauga County Emergency Management Director Ernie Baggott; and other local leaders and officials.
Earlier this week, FEMA announced that President Joe Biden had approved a Major Disaster Declaration for Alabama making federal disaster assistance available to Alabama to supplement state and local response efforts in the areas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes on Jan. 12, 2023.
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