Black Belt counties impacted by 2020 hurricanes receive disaster recovery funding

Multiple counties and communities in the Black Belt that were affected by hurricanes Sally and Zeta in 2020 were awarded funding from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) for continued recovery assistance. 

Awards under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Disaster Recovery program will fund projects in Clarke, Dallas, Escambia, Marengo, Perry, Washington and Wilcox counties, said an announcement on Wednesday. 

“Hurricanes Sally and Zeta wreaked havoc on the coast as well as areas further inland, particularly in the southwestern area of the state,” said Gov. Kay Ivey. “These grants will help the affected inland cities and counties continue their process of recovery, rebuilding and making infrastructure more resilient in severe weather.”

See below for those in the Black Belt that received funding: 

Clarke County: $2.05 million to replace a bridge on County Road 15 that was damaged after flooding from the hurricanes.

Dallas County: $2.95 million to replace or install drainage culverts at sites throughout the county that were determined to be susceptible to flooding during natural disasters.

Dallas County: $5 million to redevelop the George Washington Carver Public Housing Development in Selma.

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"This 216-unit development surrounds the historic Brown’s Chapel AME Church, an iconic civil rights site visited by thousands each year during the Bridge Crossing Jubilee," said the announcement. "Repeated natural disasters over the last two decades have contributed to deterioration of the housing. The new housing units will be built to better withstand flooding, storms and other disasters."

Marengo County: $2.79 million to extend public water service to the McKinley community. 

Perry County: $1.05 million to improve drainage along County Road 53 after it was found that the culverts were undersized and aging.

Wilcox County: $2.1 million to improve drainage along County Road 31 after heavy rains led to road instability.

City of Uniontown: $5 million to construct 24 single-family rental housing units.

"These units will provide new housing on city-owned parcels where a housing development once stood," adds the announcement. "The existing housing in the city includes structures that may not be able to withstand severe weather, including manufactured and mobile homes."