MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Alabama Legislature's regular session is set to end in early June, but lawmakers may have to return to Montgomery later this year for a special session to deal with rebuilding schools and other issues related to the April tornadoes that caused death and destruction across the state.
Several legislators said Thursday that a special session may be needed to find money to rebuild at least six schools destroyed by the tornado outbreak on April 27. Other schools were heavily damaged.
"I can't possibly see how we can deal with everything that needs to be done in the regular session," said state Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow.
, D-Red Bay, whose district includes the tornado-devastated communities of Phil Campbell and East Franklin. Phil Campbell High School was destroyed by the storm that ripped through the Franklin County town. .
"We can't leave these people hanging," Morrow said.
Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, whose district includes hard-hit Calhoun County, said lawmakers are poised to help communities recover from the storms after it's determined how much insurance and the federal government will pay toward rebuilding schools and other government buildings.
"We are committed to do whatever it takes to make people whole," Marsh said.
Several lawmakers said there's more to rebuild than just schools, pointing out that some communities suffered damage to fire stations, water towers and much of their equipment.
Gov. Robert Bentley plans to consult with legislative leaders to determine if a special session is needed, spokeswoman Rebekah Mason said.
"Governor Bentley has not yet given consideration to calling a special session on storm recovery," Mason said. "However, if calling a special session is necessary to making sure the people of this state recovery fully from this tragedy, then that's exactly what he will do."
She noted that lawmakers had already passed a resolution committing to replacing schools destroyed by the storms.
State schools superintendent Joe Morton said some schools that suffered minor damage will know the repair costs and how much their insurance policies and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will cover before the session ends. But schools that were blown away, such as Hackleburg High School in northwest Alabama and Alberta City Elementary in Tuscaloosa, likely won't know this for three to six months.
"There is a commitment to help everybody return to normal," Morton said.
House Speaker Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn, has toured storm damage and said it's clear "we will be dealing with the effects of this disaster for some time to come."
"It is unclear now whether or not it will require a special session of the Legislature to deal with storm-related issues because we don't yet know what the specific needs will be," Hubbard said.