Federal Flood Aid in Georgia Tops $60 Million
The floodwaters have receded, but the level of state and federal disaster assistance to aid recovery continues rising 30 days after historic rains triggered unprecedented flooding across 17 Georgia counties.
Georgia households affected by September storms and flooding have received more than $61.5 million in disaster grants and low-interest loan approvals since the major disaster declaration September 24.
More than $46.7 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster assistance grants and almost $14.8 million in low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) have been approved to aid recovery. The first disaster assistance payments following the Georgia flooding were disbursed by FEMA September 25 – the day after the disaster declaration.
Despite an aggressive community outreach program, there are still people affected by the flooding who haven’t applied for disaster assistance, said state and federal emergency management officials.
"There are any number of reasons why people don’t register for disaster assistance,” said Georgia Emergency Management Director Charley English. “Some people think if they have insurance, for instance, they don’t qualify. Others think disaster aid will interfere with their Social Security or Medicare benefits. Neither is true.”
More than 23,000 people have registered with FEMA either by going online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585. The toll-free numbers are staffed seven days a week, 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. until further notice. Help is available in all languages.
“Sometimes people don’t register because they think they may take assistance from someone who needs it more,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Gracia Szczech. “This is simply not the case. FEMA is here to help everybody who is eligible. Registering for assistance speeds the recovery process for everyone.”
Szczech also urged homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes to return completed SBA disaster loan applications. The low-interest loans are a major source of money for repairs and replacement of flood-damaged real estate and personal property.
The 17 counties under the disaster declaration for Individual Assistance are Bartow, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, Gwinnett, Heard, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, Stephens and Walker.
Twenty-one counties are eligible for FEMA Public Assistance, which reimburses state agencies and local governments for eligible disaster-related emergency measures and repair and replacement of damaged roads, bridges, public buildings and other infrastructure. The reimbursement is on a 75 percent federal, 25 percent state-local cost-share basis.
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.
FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.
