The University’s athletic department compliance office has received clearance from the Southeastern Conference and the NCAA to set aside certain NCAA regulations in order assist student athletes who were affected by the EF-5 tornado that destroyed parts of Tuscaloosa on Wednesday.

Football offensive lineman Carson Tinker was injured in the storm, and other student athletes lost parts of their homes.

A Friday tweet from the UA athletic compliance department said, “NCAA to @BamaCompliance-Some things are outside the scope of NCAA legislation. Take care of needs of student-athletes affected by tragedy.”

The compliance office’s twitter feed also said the SEC got back to the school just 15 minutes after the request.

“Filed an SEC waiver composed on an iphone at 10:00 pm last night,” another Friday post said. “Had an answer helping our student-athletes by 10:15. Great conference.”

This same exception to NCAA extra-benefit rules was applied to schools like Tulane and New Orleans University after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005.