Alabama begins hurricane-style claims procedure; National Guard unit bunking in Coliseum

FROM THE OFFICE OF ALA. GOV. BOB RILEY

By Donna Riley-Lein

Baldwin People Editor, Baldwin Press Register

(Created: Tuesday, June 8, 2010 5:20 PM CDT)

ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — About 150 members of the Alabama National Guard are bunking down in the Baldwin County Coliseum. A peek behind the curtains set up in the Coliseum showed cots already piled with solder’s possessions. Their month-long (or longer) mission: to assist the 600,000 residents of Baldwin and Mobile counties to file claims with British Petroleum for losses stemming from the oil spill.

Gov. Bob Riley addresses Alabama National Guard troops on Tuesday. The soldiers are being deployed from the Baldwin County Coliseum in Robertsdale to help area residents file damage claims related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Staff photo by Donna Riley-Lein.

“We know we have 17,000 condo units,” Gov. Bob Riley told the troops June 8. “But, we have just 28 claims to be paid.” Riley added that only 70 charter boats have applied for aid, out of about 1,000.

“We just don't have people coming in and applying,” said Riley.

Part of the problem, Riley said, is that people think it will take too long to get help.

“We are instituting a new program, based on our experience with hurricanes,” said Riley, explaining that people from Mobile and Baldwin counties can submit a claim and have it, “approved or denied” by BP, “within 48 hours.” The result, Riley said, will be to, “expedite the process.”

Representatives from the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, aided by National Guard soldiers, will be at locations throughout the area setting up the claims process, he said. As of this writing, the claims offices are at: 1506 North Mackenzie St. (Highway 59), Suite 104 in Foley and at 24039 Perdido Beach Blvd. in Orange Beach. Affected individuals can also call (800) 440-0858 to get assistance.

“We have to let individuals know that help is available,” said Riley. He mentioned an area family who came into one claims office.

“It was clear they felt bad, that they would rather be working,” he said. Still, the immediate help would get the family through the month.

“Do your job. Help the people,” Riley told the Guardsmen. “Make us proud.”

Questioned by reporters at a news conference after his address to the National Guard, Riley and BP Chief Operating Officer for exploration and production Doug Suttles said that the first check was not the only payment those making a claim will receive. Checks will be issued monthly, without the applicant having to file again.

“We have to get people to put a claim in,” said Suttles. “There is no cap on claims. We want to expedite the process.”

Riley and Suttles added that while there have been reports of affected people having to bring in reams of documentation to prove their losses, a tax return or a wage statement might be enough to get a simple claim process moving. Checks for simple claims may be issued on the spot or within a day or two. Claimants have the option of having their check mailed to them or returning to the office to pick it up.

“More complex claims may take longer,” Suttles noted.

Those who wish to “game the system,” Riley said, should be aware the state will prosecute fraudulent claims.