ABC 33/40 - Birmingham News, Weather, SportsHelp available for individuals, but may not come for cities

Help is on the way for the estimated 15 hundred homeowners affected by the tornadoes. But clean up costs could end up draining city coffers. But cities may have to shoulder the burden of clean up costs.

The damage from January's tornadoes was extensive. State officials are still assessing the destruction tonight. But cities may not be able to qualify for federal clean up reimbursement.

Most people would consider the damage extensive.

But according to federal government standards, it just falls short.

The mayors call no funding an extremely serious problem.

Some Trussville tornado survivors are finding comfort in a little humor by posting a yard sale sign alongside the debris. Others are finding it in their accomplishments.

"It's a daunting task but we're making a lot of progress," said Patrick Owen, a tornado survivor.

Owen has waited for the sight of boom trucks.

"That is great. We can move some of this debris to the front. It's very helpful," he said.

Trussville has hired Cahaba Disaster Recovery to help with curbside debris removal.

But in Center Point and Clay, the mayors are relying on ten Jefferson County trucks and ones from other cities, like Birmingham.

"The damage just in Center Point is tremendous. Getting that debris out, getting those torn up houses out is going to be a tremendous cost," said Center Point Mayor Tom Henderson.

Thursday, the mayors met with the state's EMA director. They were told even with nearly 15 hundred houses destroyed statewide, cities may not get reimbursed for clean up costs from the federal government. And if aide comes, it wouldn't cover the removal of debris off private property.

"That would be a major problem. Unless I can continue to get some support from other cities, there's no way to move all that needs to be moved," said Clay Mayor Ed McGuffie.

"We can't afford the dumping fees, so we are going to try to grind," said Henderson.

Owen hopes the money will come, so he can move on.

"These things seem to take similar paths, so we'll probably stay in the Trussville area but not here," he said.

The state EMA director will present his recommendation to Governor Robert Bentley next week. He says the governor is expected to forward the request for federal reimbursement to the president.Federal assistance is available for individuals, rentals and business owners now. Claims can be filed by calling 1-800-621-FEMA or www.disasterassistance.gov.

FEMA says the money covers uninsured damage but isn't a substitute for insurance. An individual can qualify for up to 31,400 dollars but on average will get between three to five thousand dollars.