The federal government has approved aid for four Alabama counties hit by severe weather. The Federal Emergency Management Agency says individuals in Baldwin, Jefferson, Lee and Limestone counties can get grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other aid to help with the recovery. Damage surveys are continuing and more counties may be designated for federal aid. Last week's severe weather claimed five lives. Two people died in Limestone County and one in Tuscaloosa County. Two motorists died due to flooding in Baldwin County.
Unemployment Compensation
The state Labor Department continues its crackdown on unemployment compensation fraud. Alabama Labor Commissioner Tom Surtees recently announced the convictions of ten individuals for making false statements with regards to obtaining unemployment benefits. Surtees said in a statement the ten Alabamians were successfully prosecuted in Calhoun, Dallas, Lee, Montgomery, Shelby, Tuscaloosa and Walker counties. All of the defendants were ordered to repay the jobless benefits and court costs.
Safe Rooms
A network of community safe rooms and shelters built across Alabama passed its biggest test yet since the tornado outbreak of three years ago. Hundreds of people filled the shelters last Monday and Tuesday as forecasters issued one tornado warning after another during waves of severe storms. The federal government set aside more than $65 million dollars for construction of large community safe rooms in Alabama after the April 2011 tornado outbreak.
Dogs Attack
Authorities in Lee County say a Smiths Station woman who was attacked by several pit bulls last week died at an Atlanta hospital. Lee County coroner Bill Harris says 20-year-old Katie Morrison died Saturday. Officials said Morrison was playing with the dogs and the dogs' owner in a backyard on Monday when one attacked her as she knelt down to pick something up. Investigators have said two other dogs joined in. The coroner said Morrison suffered a severe head injury and multiple puncture and lacerations wounds.