June 06, 2011
By: Carrie Van Brunt-Wiley
Though federal and local resources have been used to help in the cleanup of homes and business across the South after severe spring storms, officials in Alabama and Mississippi say the storms were beneficial in a way because they alerted them to gaps in emergency response.
The Associated Press reported the recent deployment of local National Guard troops to Afghanistan and Iraq - the largest in Alabama history - left that state with a lack of personnel on hand to clean up after recent tornadoes and floods. Art Faulker, director of the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, told the source the state had to contract private workers to fill the void, as the killer twisters left behind significant loss of life, property damage and a huge number of homeowners insurance claims.
At this point, officials in Mississippi and Alabama told the source they now feel more prepared to deal with the effects of potential hurricanes this season.
"Hurricane exercises are one thing - but if you have to respond to an actual emergency, it makes you more capable to respond to the next one," Mike Womack, head of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.
Risk modeling firm EQECAT reported Alabama home insurance companies paid out between $2 billion and $5 billion in losses after the late-April tornadoes.
Related Home Insurance Articles:
- NOAA predicts near-normal Eastern Pacific hurricane season May 25, 2012
- Safety officials call attention to home sprinkler system regulations May 24, 2012
- Thousands of St. Louis insurance claims cite recent hail damage May 22, 2012
- Tropical Storm Alberto changes course away from Carolinas May 21, 2012
- California tops the nation in dog bite claims May 17, 2012
