City assesses damage

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Mobile can now consider itself lucky, the damage caused by Hurricane Isaac looks to be minimal, according to City of Mobile engineers.

Within 24-hours county Emergency Management requests all municipalities to report a preliminary damage assessment.

“The city currently has seven, two-man teams doing that initial inspection. It's a windshield inspection, where they are doing a general overview of any flood damage or any wind damage that may have taken place,” said city engineer, Nick Amberger.

Any damage the two person crew sees will be logged and the value estimated.

Logs are reported to the county EMA, and it sends compiled reports to the governor.

“We don't anticipate, with this storm, fortunately, we don't anticipate finding any significant damage. So, we're treating this as a good training opportunity,” said Amberger.

The governor's office reports to FEMA. 

The president reviews those reports and decides if they meet a predetermined threshold.

It opens up federal funding to assist in a number of different ways, just depending what the damage at hand may be.

Major infrastructure damage would likely get funding.

“If a culvert or a bridge blew out, or a major section of roadway got damaged made the threshold of the declaration, than, yes it would be eligible for reimbursement,” said Amberger.

If the county doesn't meet the threshold, then the city will not be reimbursed for repairs and clean-up.

“We're trying to take advantage of just a glancing blow, if you will,” said Amberger.

Amberger said they're going through the motions of assessment so that if Mobile is ever hit with a major storm they will be ready to respond.

City officials ask that you call 311 to report any flooding or wind damage to your home.