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Pres. Biden grants federal disaster declaration after Gov. Kemp requests it & Ga. U.S. Congressional delegates urge approval

Posted on Oct 02, 2024 at 9:16 AM

Photo of downed trees on HWY 268 in Coffee County shot Friday, Sept. 27, after Helene blew across Southeast Georgia from Valdosta to Augusta. / Photo by Angie O'Steen

The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Oct. 1 that federal disaster assistance is available to the state of Georgia to help recovery efforts in the areas hit by Hurricane Helene from Sept. 24 and continuing. The storm entered Georgia from Florida as a Category 2 in the wee hours of Friday, Sept. 27.

FEMA announced the morning of Oct. 1 that Biden's action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Appling, Brooks, Coffee, Columbia, Jefferson, Liberty, Lowndes, Pierce, Richmond, Tattnall and Toombs counties.

At 2:05 p.m. on Oct. 1, FEMA announced via press release that individuals in 30 additional Georgia counties are eligible for federal assistance.

Individuals in Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bulloch, Burke, Candler, Chatham, Clinch, Colquitt, Cook, Echols, Emanuel, Evans, Glascock, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Lincoln, McDuffie, Montgomery, Screven, Telfair, Treutlen, Ware, Washington and Wheeler counties 

On Oct. 4 FEMA announced that individuals in the following counties are eligible for federal assistance: Effingham, Elbert, Rabun and Tift. On Oct 6, FEMA added the following counties to the eligibility list: Bryan, Butts, Camden, Charlton, Glynn, Long, Newton and Wayne.  

Individuals in all of the counties listed above that are eligible for federal assistance may be eligible for grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help them recover from the effects of the disaster. In addition to housing expenses, survivors may be eligible for other serious disaster-related needs, such as replacement of damaged personal property and expenses for transportation, childcare, moving and storage. 

On Oct 10, FEMA announced that homeowners and renters in Dodge, Hancock, Thomas and Warren counties who had uninsured damage or losses caused by Hurricane Helene may apply for FEMA disaster assistance.

Federal funding is also available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work in Appling, Brooks, Coffee, Columbia, Jefferson, Liberty, Lowndes, Pierce, Richmond, Tattnall and Toombs counties. 

At 2:05 p.m. on Oct. 1, FEMA announced that federal funding is also available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work in Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bulloch, Burke, Candler, Chatham, Clinch, Colquitt, Cook, Echols, Emanuel, Evans, Glascock, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Lincoln, McDuffie, Montgomery, Screven, Telfair, Treutlen, Ware, Washington and Wheeler counties. 

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide. 

The evening of Oct. 2, FEMA announced that President Biden authorized the federal cost-share to be increased from 75% to 100% for the first 90 days of the storm incident period.This applies to the individual assistance and public assistance in designated counties as well as the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program statewide.

Kevin A. Wallace, Sr. has been named the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected areas. Additional designations may be made later if warranted by the results of damage assessments. 

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 1-800-621- 3362 or by using the FEMA App. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service. For the latest Georgia specific information visit  www.fema.gov/disaster/4830 .  

Georgians should be alert for fraud from scammers posing as FEMA representatives. Tips to avoid becoming a victim are available at https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20241005/be-alert-fraud-after-hurricane-helene-georgia

Many rumors/false stories have circulated regarding FEMA & its response to Helene. Visit https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20241004/fema-launches-web-page-respond-rumors-and-confirm-facts-related-hurricane to verify information.

After Georgia’s Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) completed disaster assessments across the state on Sept. 30, Gov. Brian Kemp formally requested President Joe Biden to declare a major disaster in the State of Georgia.

Following the State of Georgia’s formal request, all of Georgia’s U.S. Congressional Delegation united in a bipartisan effort to urge President Biden to swiftly approve the request. 

Sen. Jon Ossoff, Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock and Reps. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (GA-01), Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), Drew Ferguson (GA-03), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Nikema Williams (GA-05), Rich McCormick (GA-06), Lucy McBath (GA-07), Austin Scott (GA-08), Andrew Clyde (GA-09), Mike Collins (GA-10), Barry Loudermilk (GA-11), Rick Allen (GA-12), David Scott (GA-13), and Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA-14) urged President Biden to quickly approve the State of Georgia’s request, which would provide a range of important federal assistance programs in the counties impacted by Hurricane Helene, including funds for both impacted individuals and public infrastructure.

“We write to convey full support for Governor Brian Kemp’s request for an expedited major disaster declaration for the counties in the State of Georgia significantly impacted by Hurricane Helene,”  Georgia’s Congressional Delegation wrote to President Biden. “We encourage your team to promptly consider Governor Kemp’s request for a major disaster declaration, and we stand ready to work with you and your Administration to support these critical recover efforts in Georgia.”

You can read the Georgia delegation’s letter at  https://gfb.ag/GAUSdelegationrequestingfedhelp .

Based on the GEMA assessment of storm damage, Governor Kemp has requested public assistance for the following counties: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Baker, Baldwin, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bleckley, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Calhoun, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clay, Clayton, Clinch, Cobb, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Crisp, Decatur, DeKalb, Dodge, Dougherty, Douglas, Early, Echols, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Fayette, Fulton, Glascock, Glynn, Grady, Gwinnett, Hancock, Henry, Irwin, Jasper, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Lee, Liberty, Long, Lowndes, McDuffie, McIntosh, Miller, Mitchell, Montgomery, Pierce, Pulaski, Putnam, Quitman, Randolph, Richmond, Rockdale, Screven, Seminole, Taliaferro, Tattnall, Telfair, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Turner, Twiggs, Ware, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wheeler, Wilcox, Wilkinson, and Worth.

Gov. Kemp also requested individual assistance for the following counties: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Bryan, Brooks, Bulloch, Burke, Butts, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Echols, Effingham, Elbert, Emanuel, Evans, Glynn, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Long, Lowndes, McDuffie, McIntosh, Montgomery, Newton, Pierce, Rabun, Richmond, Tattnall, Telfair, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Ware, and Wayne.

Gov. Kemp also requested President Biden use his discretion under Section 403 and Section 407 of the Stafford Act to increase the federal cost share of the eligible costs associated with Hurricane Helene.

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