(MOBILE, Ala.) Is there still a chance Mobile could receive a federal disaster declaration due to the two December tornados that ravaged parts of Midtown?
Mayor Sam Jones says the federal government usually doesn't make a declaration without a request from the governor.
Tuesday Jones said the city will send an official letter of request with the city's own damage and dollar amounts to FEMA, the state and the local EMA director.
Will it work?
"We've heard from them that they didn't think we met the threshold for tornados," says Mayor Jones. "We think we need some assistance, here, so we're (going to) officially write them a letter requesting a declaration for Mobile."
Some Midtown residents affected by the Christmas Day tornado say federal help would be great, but are unsure if the city will get it.
"There, again, it depends," said resident Bill McNair. "My son has good insurance, but some people have no insurance, so I don't know the answer to that."
Resident Bill Fibby agreed.
"I don't know the criteria for it," he said, "but, I think, certainly, we have areas that are as seriously damaged and people that are injured as seriously as people in the northeast when they had the last hurricane."
Jones says he also plans to ask county leaders to write similar disaster request letters as well.
Meanwhile, the city continues to pick up tons of debris, and has submitted its damage figures to local EMA officials.
