More Than Half a Million in Disaster Aid Approved and Paid
Release Date: May 31, 2008
Release Number: 1761-009
» More Information on Georgia Severe Storms and Flooding
ATLANTA, Ga. -- Since President Bush declared a major disaster for the state of Georgia on May 23 significant amounts of federal aid have begun to flow into the affected areas.
Families and individuals who suffered damage from the tornadoes and severe storms of May 11-12 have been approved to receive $617,030 in assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the state of Georgia. More than $500,000 of this assistance has already been paid to eligible applicants.
"Safe and secure housing is a vital step in the recovery process," said Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) Deputy State Coordinating Officer Joe McKinney. "The housing assistance check likely will be just the first check for many Georgians affected by the early May storm."
Under the federal disaster declaration, renters, homeowners and businesses in Bibb, Carroll, Douglas, Emanuel, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Laurens, McIntosh and Twiggs counties are eligible to apply for disaster assistance.
"We are encouraging anyone in the declared counties who suffered damage in these storms to apply with FEMA, whether they have insurance or not," said Jeff Bryant, the FEMA federal coordinating officer for this disaster. "Even if their insurance covers most of the damage, there are other types of assistance and services that FEMA and the state of Georgia can offer disaster survivors."
Below is the breakdown of federal aid for the counties affected by the severe storms and tornadoes, as of close of business May 31:
- 3,366 households have registered with FEMA for some form of disaster assistance, including financial grants, loans and other disaster-related services.
- $496,127 has been approved through the Individuals and Households Program to help pay for housing assistance, including rental assistance and repairs to homes.
- $120,903 has been approved to help applicants cover other disaster-related needs such as medical and dental expenses, lost personal possessions, funeral costs and loss of essential transportation.
- 1,863 home inspections have been issued.
- Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are operating Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. until further notice in ten counties. (Closed on Sundays)
- FEMA Community Relations teams continue to canvas disaster-affected communities.
Residents can apply for assistance by calling FEMA's toll-free registration line (800) 621-FEMA (3362), TTY (800) 462-7585 or online at www.fema.gov.
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Last Modified: Monday, 02-Jun-2008 08:59:30