Editor’s Note: Complete details of the press conference mentioned below will be posted Monday to enewscourier.com and will appear in Tuesday’s print edition. The information below was the most urgent to be disseminated.

Emergency officials and legislators said at a Sunday afternoon press conference at Tanner High School that they are working to ensure Limestone County is added to the list of Alabama counties eligible for federal disaster aid following Wednesday’s storms.

In Limestone County, four people were killed and dozens injured. Statewide, 252 died as a result of the historic outbreak of as many as 160 tornadoes and 1,730 were injured.

Tanner, East Limestone and Capshaw were hardest hit in Limestone, where 220 homes were destroyed, 75 sustained major damage and as many as 300 had minor damage, according to Rita White, director of Limestone County Emergency Management Agency.

EMA officials arranged the press conference in Tanner, one of the areas hardest hit by a tornado that ravaged the county at about 4 p.m. Wednesday. Attending were White, Daphne Ellison of EMA, Gary Scroggins of Athens Utilities; Randy King with Limestone County Sheriff’s Office; Sen. Bill Holtzclaw, R-Madison; Rep. Dan Williams, R-Athens; Rep. Mac McCutcheon, R-Capshaw; Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks, Limestone County Commission Chairman Stanley Menefee; commissioners Bill Latimer and Gerald Barksdale and Bob Rolf of the American Red Cross.

Members of the delegation offered condolences to those who lost family members and homes, and thanked rescue workers, law officers and volunteers who have assisted those in need.

“God bless us in this county,” McCutcheon said.

Information officials wanted residents to have includes:

Call FEMA

Limestone County has been declared a disaster area and now eligible for federal aid. Holtzclaw said residents who will need federal aid for destroyed or damaged homes should register with the Federal EMA. He said some residents have reported they were told by FEMA they do not qualify because Limestone and Madison counties are not yet on the official list to receive federal aid. However, Holtzclaw said these residents should call the hotline at 800-621-3362 and tell the FEMA representative they have been told to register. Be sure to ask for a registration number when the process is complete, he said.

“It’s key that individuals maintain receipts for any money they’re spending now because of displacement,” Holtzclaw said. Once Limestone is officially on the list for federal aid, it will be applied retroactively to when the tornadoes occurred, he said.

In addition, Holtzclaw said aerial survey crews for the state have not gotten to northern Alabama. When surveys of Limestone and Madison are completed, they should help prove the case that the area deserves the declaration needed for federal aid.

Be ready when power is restored

The Tennessee Valley Authority and local distributors have said power may be restored to outlying areas of Limestone County and all of Madison County by Tuesday. However, McCutcheon, who had spoken with TVA representatives, said residents must prepare by turning off circuit breakers. If hundreds of air conditioning units come on at once, another shutdown could occur.

“TVA had catastrophic damage and systems shut down,” he said. “It’s very important residents go in and turn breakers off. If we throw that power and we’re drawing too much power to residences, there could be a total shutdown again.”

McCutcheon said power will first be restored to emergency and law agencies, then to residences, and lastly to industries.

Some power restored

Marks said 600 residents in Ardmore and Elkmont received power Saturday night when Athens Utilities was able to work with Pulaski, Tenn., to use electricity from its system. The mayor said the added power allowed additional water to be pumped to Limestone County Water and Sewer Authority and increase the trickling water pressure.

Scroggins said as many as 15,000 residents remain without power in Limestone County. “When TVA is restored, we should be able to pick up about 10,000 of those,” he aid. “The other 5,000 or 6,000 are where we have damaged lines (largely in Tanner and East Limestone).”

On Sunday night, Scroggins said, some residents in Mooresville, Belle Mina and along County Line Road in southern Limestone should receive power.

Curfew, roadblocks

Manned roadblocks to heavily damaged areas of the county have been removed, King said. “But we still have a heavy presence,” he said.

The dusk-to-dawn curfew remains in effect for heavily damaged areas. “We ask residents to respect the curfew,” he said.

Red Cross

The local American Red Cross established a shelter Wednesday night at First Baptist Church on Hobbs Street.

“It’s open 24 hours a day,” Rolf said. Church members and volunteers are supplying three meals per day to those at the shelter, as well as cots and air conditioning. He said many residents have chosen to stay in damaged homes.

“I ask them to reconsider and please come to a shelter,” he said. “I know people are concerned about their home but their lives are more important.”

Rolf also said those wanting to assist disaster victims can do so by making monetary donations to the American Red Cross.

“This is going to be an ongoing process. It doesn’t end tomorrow. It doesn’t end when power comes back up. This will go on for months and months.”

Tarps, water, ice

Latimer said all damaged roads were opened by midnight Thursday, thanks to crews working around the clock. He thanked crews, and EMA officials, remarking that White has only been director for a year.

White said she was “baptized by fire” and added Eddie Gilbert and Daphne Ellison of the EMA staff have been invaluable.

White reminded residents EMA is providing tarps, water, ice and Meals Ready to Eat. Anyone who needs assistance should call 256-232-2631.

“We are working diligently to meet your needs,” White said. “This disaster has really broken my heart.” Addressing Tanner residents, she said: “I just want you to know my heart is with you.”

Help your neighbor

Williams, who thanked people for their acts of kindness during this disaster, reminded those in the city limits of Athens that many in outlying areas are without homes or without power.

“We need to open our homes to our neighbors for showers and respite form the heat,” he said. He added that people should remember recovery from these terrible storms will take time.

“We’re going to be here months from now trying to clean up,” he said. He encouraged residents to contact him, Holtzclaw or McCuthcheon on Facebook to tell them their needs and concerns.