Albany Area Storm Recovery Roundup

FEMA provides notice of intent

ATLANTA — The Federal Emergency Management Agency has provided public notice of its intent to provide federal assistance and grant opportunities through its Public Assistance, Individual Assistance, or Hazard Mitigation Grant programs.

FEMA’s intention is to reimburse eligible applicants for costs to repair or replace facilities damaged by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding in the Georgia counties of Appling, Baker, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Bulloch, Calhoun, Colquitt, Cook, Clay, Crisp, Dougherty, Echols, Lowndes, Randolph, Tattnall, Thomas, Turner, Upson, Ware, Wilcox and Worth.

In the notice, FEMA describes proposed activities that may affect historic properties and activities and critical actions that may affect wetlands and floodplains. The notice is posted at https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4297/notices/public-notice-intent-reimburse-eligible-applicants.

Questions should be directed to [email protected]. Comments should be sent in writing to Kevin Hannes, Federal Coordinating Officer, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Joint Field Office DR-4297-GA, 3003 Chamblee Tucker Road, Atlanta, Ga., 30341 within 15 days.

Thomas County center closing

THOMASVILLE — The state and FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in Thomas County for the January storms is set to close permanently at 7 p.m. Friday.

The center has been located at the county fire department.

Those who need to contact FEMA after the DRC closes can contact the agency through its Helpline at (800) 621-3362. Those who use a TTY may call (800) 462-7585, while those who use 711 or VRS can still use the Helpline number.

With any computer, smartphone or tablet, applicants may log onto DisasterAssistance.gov. Download the FEMA mobile app from Google Play, the Apple App Store or fema.gov/mobile-app.

The toll-free numbers are open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Help is available in most languages, and information on the registration process is available in ASL at http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/videos/111546.

To find other Disaster Recovery Centers still open in Georgia, log onto fema.gov and search for FEMA: DRC Locator or call the Helpline for the locations. Two centers remain open in Albany at the Albany Mall and at 1721 E. Oglethorpe Blvd.

For those who have applied for low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, the number for the SBA Customer Service Center is (800) 659-2955. (Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.) The website for disaster questions and information is www.sba.gov/disaster.

Students can apply for FEMA council

ALBANY — In the aftermath of the January storms that tore through the region, chances are some Albany area and Southwest Georgia students may be interested in applying to serve on the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Youth Preparedness Council.

Positions are open to youths in grades 8-11 in Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Students who are engaged in community service or are interested in emergency preparedness may apply to serve on the Youth Preparedness Council, where FEMA officials say they can make a difference and transform the resilience and preparedness of communities across the country.

During a council member’s two-year term, he or she will meet with FEMA staff on a regular basis to discuss the youth perspective on emergency preparedness, share information with their communities, and participate in local and national emergency preparedness projects.

Adults working with youths or emergency management are encouraged to share the application with students who might be interested in applying. Applications are due March 31. Applicants must submit a completed application form, two letters of recommendation and academic records. To submit an application, visit the application website, www.ready.gov/youth-preparedness-council.

For more information and to see the projects current members are working on, visit the Youth Preparedness Council website.

Car dealership donates funds to Albany Museum of Art for storm recovery

ALBANY — Miracle Kia and Miracle Toyota of Albany donated $5,000 to the Albany Museum of Art earlier this week in an effort to assist with the damage caused by the storms that hit Albany on Jan. 2.

Miracle Toyota/Kia General Manager Blake Scott and Customer Relations Manager Amanda Watkins hand-delivered their donation check to AMA Executive Director Paula Williams on Wednesday.

Straight-line winds slammed into the museum facility and pummeled the building. All of the artwork in the building was saved, but programs and events continue at different locations as the museum is expected to remain closed for the next 8-10 months.