FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Paige Thomas, Community Preservation Coordinator

Paige.Thomas@ahc.alabama.gov, 334-230-2643

June 14, 2022

Alabama Historical Commission Announces Public Meetings for Results of Historic Research Completed in Hurricane Michael Affected Areas

(Montgomery, AL) The Alabama Historical Commission (AHC) will host virtual public meetings on June 28th, June 30th, and July 7th to provide updates on the AHC’s on-going project to document historic resources in areas impacted by Hurricane Michael in October 2018. 

In December 2019, the AHC received a grant from the National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund to document historic resources on Dauphin Island, and in Geneva, Henry, and Houston counties and to nominate selected properties to the National Register of Historic Places. Historic properties in these areas suffered from the effects of Hurricane Michael and are vulnerable to future storms. The information collected during this project will help the AHC and local governments to better assist owners of historic properties as they confront challenges during the aftermath of natural disasters. 

During the meetings, AHC, along with consulting firms Terracon Consultants, Inc. and PaleoWest, will present results from the documentation project. A question-and-answer session and opportunities for public comment will follow the presentations. All interested parties and residents are invited to participate.

Meetings will take place by Zoom on June 28th at 12:00 p.m. and on June 30th and July 7th at 5:30 p.m. Zoom links for the meetings are available on the project web page at https://ahc.alabama.gov/hurricanemichaelgrants.aspx or can be requested by emailing Paige Thomas at Paige.Thomas@ahc.alabama.gov.  Public comments or questions may also be directed to Paige Thomas. 

The National Park Service grant to the AHC also provides grant funds available to historic property owners in the four counties that suffered damage from Hurricane Michael. For more information about the grant program, visit https://ahc.alabama.gov/hurricanemichaelgrants.aspx. AHC staff will also present information about the grant program at the virtual public meetings.

About the Alabama Historical Commission

Located in historic downtown Montgomery at 468 S. Perry Street, the Alabama Historical Commission is the state historic preservation agency for Alabama. The agency was created by an act of the state legislature in 1966 with a mission to protect, preserve and interpret Alabama’s historic places. AHC works to accomplish its mission through two fields of endeavor: Preservation and promotion of state-owned historic sites as public attractions; and, statewide programs to assist people, groups, towns, and cities with local preservation activities. For a complete list of programs and properties owned and operated by the AHC, hours of operation, and admission fees please visit ahc.alabama.gov.