MAGNOLIA SPRINGS, Ala. — Magnolia Springs town leaders are working to acquire disaster-relief funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in order to repair damage to public infrastructure caused by last month’s historic flood event.

During Tuesday’s Council meeting, Councilman Bob Holk announced that he had a meeting scheduled with FEMA representatives the next morning about the application.

“We’ve put in our request for assistance as a public entity,” he said.

Holk read a list of damages to public property caused by the flooding, which included erosion on edges of roads, downed trees at Magnolia Landing and a washed out culvert at Bay Street.

The councilman also pointed out the importance of expediting the work to apply for FEMA assistance.

“There’s a time limit too,” he said. “It’s normally 60 days after the event.”

In a phone interview Wednesday afternoon, Town Clerk Karen Biel said that morning’s meeting resulted in FEMA approving the town to conduct a second debris removal June 9-13, as well as the go-ahead to get estimates of damage to public property.

“We did an emergency pick-up,” Holk said Tuesday, explaining that earlier this month the town removed debris created by the flood. “We went around and picked up off the right of way.”

Town leaders urge residents and business owners to place flood-related debris in the right of ways during the upcoming removal. Biel advised that debris should be placed in categories, all of which are listed on the town’s website, TownofMagnoliaSprings.org. For additional information, call Magnolia Springs Town Hall at 251-986- 9888.

During Tuesday’s Council meeting, Mayor Ken Underwood pointed out that the town does have some limitations in dealing with disaster relief.

“FEMA has not offered encouragement about going on private property,” he said.

The April 29 weather event poured 26 inches of rain on an already saturated South Baldwin County. Area law enforcement and rescue officials reported responded to numerous calls for help.

Among those was Foley Fire and Police Departments, which reported more than 50 incidents within a few hours.

“Most of those were water-related rescues,” Foley Fire Chief Joey Darby said, explaining that the Foley FD conducted 19 boat rescues.

Those rescues were executed with the help of Bon Secour and Oyster Bay Fire Departments until each was called back to help in its own community.

“It was a great coordinated effort,” Darby said.

During a recent Foley City Council Meeting, he also said the Magnolia Springs Volunteer Fire Department was part of that effort. However, those firefighters remained in Foley as the storm worsened.

“Magnolia Springs stayed in Foley all night,” Darby said, “because they couldn’t get back due to the water.”

Elberta Police Chief Stan DeVane also reported numerous rescues in that town, with the department’s black hummer being used to rescue 15 people and four dogs. He added that the green hummer traveled 150 miles before flooding that same night. In addition, Elberta Police assisted with the rescuing two people from vehicles in Foley.

“We were the only help that some people in this part of the county had the night of the flood,” Elberta Mayor Marvin Williams said.

During Elberta’s May meeting, he explained that town officials offered shelter to several drivers seeking help.

“The only thing we had to offer them was a sleeping bag and an XL sweatshirt,” Williams said.