Storm assistance for south Georgia nears $8 million; FEMA deadline approaching
FEMA officials report $2.9 million in assistance approved for individuals and households in south Georgia
From Staff Reports
WARNER ROBINS — Officials at the Federal Emergency Management Agency have worked cooperatively with other disaster recovery providers in Southwest Georgia following losses sustained in severe January storms.
As of Tuesday, nearly $8 million in assistance had been accounted for, with the deadline to apply for assistance approaching, officials with FEMA said.
Figures released by the federal agency include:
— $2.9 million in FEMA assistance approved for individuals and households, including $1.97 million for home repairs and temporary housing and $952,629 for other disaster‐related expenses and needs;
— $5 million in disaster loans approved for homeowners, renters and businesses by the U.S. Small Business Administration;
— Disaster survivor assistance team members visited 2,363 homes in the designated counties and helped 294 survivors register with FEMA;
— Seven temporary state and federal disaster recovery centers opened to offer one-on-one assistance to survivors who made 2,257 visits;
— FEMA’s contract housing inspectors verified disaster damage at 2,877 properties;
— More than 650 residents attended any of nine town hall meetings.
The deadline to register with FEMA for disaster assistance is March 27. Residents of Berrien, Cook, Crisp, Dougherty, Thomas, Turner, Wilcox and Worth counties who suffered damage from the storms may register by calling the FEMA’s helpline at (800) 621-3362.
People who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call (800) 462-7585. The toll-free numbers are open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Individuals may also go online to disasterassistance.gov, or download the FEMA app from Google Play, the Apple App Store or at fema.gov/mobile-app.
Under the FEMA Public Assistance program, 69 requests for public assistance had been filed as of Tuesday with FEMA by government entities and private nonprofits seeking help in repairing or replacing infrastructure and buildings damaged in the storms.
Officials say FEMA shoulders at least 75 percent of the costs of eligible projects, with the beneficiaries expected to be responsible for the remainder. The FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is available throughout Georgia and provides funds for projects meant to reduce or avoid damage in future disasters.
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