Tornado assessment to begin

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be in Smith Institute today and DeKalb County on Wednesday to assess tornado damage.  FEMA personnel will arrive today joining state officials, assessing the aftermath of the EF3 tornado that hit Smith Institute in the early morning hours of April 29.  The Alabama EMA said it still is gathering the required information for Gov. Robert Bentley to ask President Barack Obama to declare Etowah County a disaster area.  Lee, Jefferson, Limestone and Baldwin counties were declared disaster areas by the president Friday.  A community disaster recovery meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church to discuss recovery efforts.  Etowah County Engineer Tim Graves said he hopes to begin debris cleanup Thursday or Friday. He said regardless of whether Etowah County is declared a disaster area, his office will pick up the debris and is making sure it meets the requirements for reimbursement from FEMA.