Cutting through the swathes of arguments as to whether the origin was from Alyes (French) Alice (English) Alan (Scottish) or Ellis (Norman from Hebrew), what can be said with historical accuracy is that the oldest know recording is English! (see below).
Disaster area. A disaster area is a region or a locale, heavily damaged by either natural, technological or social hazards. Disaster areas affect the population living in the community by dramatic increase in expense, loss of energy, food and services; and finally increase the risk of disease for citizens. An area that has been struck with a natural, technological or sociological hazard that opens the affected area for national or international aid.
President Obama declared major disaster areas in Mississippi and Louisiana on Wednesday night, according to a White House press release, and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by Hurricane Isaac beginning on August 26, 2012, and continuing..