Disaster Recovery Continues With $5.35 Million in Aid Approved
Release Date: March 28, 2007
Release Number: 1686-028
» More Information on Georgia Severe Storms and Tornadoes
CORDELE, Ga. -- Disaster recovery grants, loans, and Public Assistance funds approved for Georgia families, individuals, business owners, and local governments since President Bush's March 3 disaster declaration now total more than $5.35 million.
The new total, $2 million more than a week ago, was announced today by officials of the U. S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA), and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
Following is a breakdown of disaster-recovery aid for the 15 counties now authorized to receive funds to spur recovery from the severe storms and tornadoes of March 1-2. As of close of business Tuesday, March 27, 2007:
- 1,741 households have registered for Individual Assistance.
- $808,328 has been approved through the Individuals and Household Program. Of that, FEMA has provided $496,852 in Housing Assistance and $311,476 in Other Needs Assistance (ONA).
- $4,422,800 in loans has been approved by the SBA for homeowners, renters, individuals and business owners affected by the severe storms and tornadoes. Of this, $4,053,600 has been approved for home loans and $369,200 has been approved for businesses. An SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center located in Sumter County at the Gertrude Davenport, Inc., building, 306 Rucker St., Americus , is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. SBA also operates a Business Outreach Center in Americus at the South Georgia Technical College 's Pope Center .
- To date, 855 home inspections have been scheduled and 839 have been completed. There are currently two inspectors in the field.
- 2,261 people have visited the seven Disaster Recovery Centers established to meet the recovery information needs of individuals in the counties affected by the disaster. One center remains open until 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 31, at the Worth County Fire and Rescue Headquarters, 302 E. Willingham St. , Sylvester , Georgia .
- 36 Disaster Unemployment Assistance claims have been filed and $4,335 has been disbursed.
- $118,042 in federal Public Assistance funds has been obligated to the state of Georgia for repairs to a maintenance building in Baker County . This amount represents only the first of several Public Assistance projects expected during the disaster recovery.
Federal and state aid for the severe storms and tornadoes of March 1-2 is now authorized for 15 Georgia counties.
Individual Assistance is authorized in nine counties: Baker, Crawford, Dougherty, McDuffie, Mitchell, Sumter, Taylor, Warren, and Worth counties. Homeowners, renters and business owners in these counties have until May 2 to register for assistance by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) . Those with impaired- speech or hearing can call TTY 800-462-7585. Applicants also can register online at www.fema.gov.
Thirteen counties are authorized to receive Public Assistance: Baker, Clay, Crawford, Hancock, McDuffie, Mitchell, Muscogee, Stewart, Sumter, Taylor, Warren, Webster, and Wilkinson.
FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident, initiates mitigation activities and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA works closely with state and local emergency managers, law enforcement personnel, firefighters and other first responders. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 28-Mar-2007 15:38:34