Disaster Assistance Can Help Flood Survivors In 17 Georgia Counties 

Release Date: September 28, 2009
Release Number: 1858-011

» More Information on Georgia Severe Storms and Flooding

ATLANTA, Ga. -- The recovery is underway for Georgians who are cleaning up their homes and neighborhoods and applying for federal and state disaster assistance now available to them.

Officials from the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are coordinating assistance and Disaster Recovery Centers in affected areas so that Georgians can get face-to-face information about assistance.

"State and federal assistance is available now in 17 counties. This will help people who lost so much, but we know it's just a start in the recovery process," said GEMA Director Charley English, who is the state coordinating officer.

The 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.

By Saturday evening, more than 6,500 households had applied for assistance.

In nine counties - Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cobb, Douglas, Gwinnett, Paulding, Stephens and Walker - federal assistance also is available to local governments, state agencies and certain private nonprofit organizations. Funding, on a cost-share basis, can reimburse communities for emergency work associated with the disaster and to repair or replace flood-damaged infrastructure.

Local officials, GEMA and FEMA representatives will continue doing damage assessments this week in other affected areas.

"Our state and federal Community Relations teams are in the field to talk with disaster survivors at Disaster Recovery Centers, shelters, churches and community centers," Federal Coordinating Officer Gracia Szczech said. "They will be going door-to-door in affected neighborhoods."

The Georgia Disaster Housing Task Force and FEMA Individual Assistance staff are working together to locate housing resources for flood survivors.

Voluntary agencies - including the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, the Church of Latter Day Saints, Convoy of Hope, the Georgia Baptist Convention, the United Way and local community churches and groups - have been helping disaster survivors with food and supplies to clean damaged properties.

Disaster Recovery Centers are staffed by FEMA and state recovery personnel and representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration. They are open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily in the following locations:

Cherokee County
Cherokee County Parks and Recreation Department, 200 Building,
7545 Main St.
Woodstock

Cobb County
The Threadmill, Suite 120
5000 Austell/Powder Springs Road
Austell

Douglas County
Lithia Springs First United Methodist Church
3711 Temple St.
Lithia Springs

Douglas County
Heritage Baptist Church
8800 Rose Ave.
Douglasville


In the 17 disaster-designated counties individuals and business owners who suffered uninsured or underinsured damages or loss as a result of the severe storms and flooding have begun calling FEMA's toll-free number - 800-621-FEMA (3362) to apply for federal disaster assistance. That number is answered 24 hours a day by teleregistration specialists who can provide services in several languages. The TTY number is 800-462-7585 for applicants who are speech- or hearing-impaired. Georgians also can apply online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.

Disaster assistance for individuals can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses. SBA can make low-interest disaster loans available to homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes.

People who are applying for disaster assistance should have the following information ready:

Those who already have applied can check the status of their application and get additional help at Disaster Recovery Centers or online by pressing the Helpline option at the FEMA registration line.

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.

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.

Last Modified: Monday, 28-Sep-2009 10:10:42