The Alabama Department of Homeland Security has awarded the Covington County Probate Office a $8,250 grant for a “disaster recovery kit,” county EMA director Susan Harris announced.

The kit will contain the necessary equipment for the probate office to set up a temporary recording department at an alternate location in the event a catastrophe strikes the current probate office.

“Disaster preparedness is all about planning for something that you hope will never happen,” Probate Judge Ben Bowden said. “We have been working for over a year to secure funding for this project. I hope we never need the kit, but we want to be ready in case we do.”

The probate office recording department is the county depository for real property records, including deeds, mortgages, and other documents dealing with land.

The grant will cover the cost of purchasing equipment necessary for a fully functional recording office and a weather-proof container to store the equipment.

-Staff reports