Last Wednesday, Governor Bob Riley declared a state of emergency for Crenshaw County due to heavy rains and subsequent damage, but it may take time before the county can get grant money from FEMA for repairs.

Last week’s significant amount of rainfall damaged several roads around the county, and FEMA visited on Tuesday to survey the damage.

“They came and did a preliminary assessment,” said Jessica Tomlin-Seabrook, Crenshaw County’s Emergency Management director. “There is a $44,000 minimum damage threshold, and we reached that.”

Tomlin-Seabrook explained that though a state of emergency was declared and a survey has been taken, there are still several steps left in the process.

“Now the state will ask Governor Riley to declare a natural hazard,” she said.

Once that declaration comes from Riley, the issue is sent to the president for a declaration clearing FEMA to come into the area.

“When we went and did the assessment, we saw quite a few roads still closed,” Tomlin-Seabrook said.

As of press time Wednesday afternoon, here are roads that remain closed around the county:

South Carter Road (off CR 57 end)

Stark Road

Turner Hill Road (off Highway 29)

Mount Road

Settlement Road (from Parker Creek Road to bridge)

Sheep Trail Road

Jones Bridge Road (from CR 5 end)

Powell Road (from Hwy 189 toward Bailey Lake)

Other roads, such as the Lapine Highway are still open, but have suffered slight damage, so caution should be used while driving.

Several other counties in the south part of the state were also placed under a state of emergency, including Covington, Dale and Escambia counties.