BRUNSWICK, Ga. – The state of Georgia, local governments and certain private nonprofits in four Georgia counties are now eligible to receive federal assistance to help cover expenses for permanent work under the Public Assistance program to help with costs to repair or replace infrastructure damaged as a result of Hurricane Irma, according to state and federal officials.
President Trump previously approved Public Assistance funding for emergency work, including debris removal and emergency protective measures, in all 159 Georgia counties on Sept. 15, 2017, and approved permanent work, categories C through G, for 102 counties on Sept. 28, 2017. The latest amendment, issued Oct. 11, 2017, authorizes categories C through G for an additional four counties: Echols, Effingham, Lowndes and Tift.
The amendment provides federal reimbursement for eligible projects to repair or replace damaged infrastructure including: public facilities such as hospitals, schools, fire stations and police stations, public parks, roads and bridges, utilities and other critical infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Irma.
The Public Assistance Grant Program is a reimbursement program paid to state, tribal and local governments, and certain private nonprofits. Under the Public Assistance program, FEMA pays at least 75 percent of the cost of disaster-related expenses such as infrastructure repairs, overtime and debris removal. Typically, the remaining 25 percent is split between state and local governments at 12.5 percent each. Eligible private nonprofits are responsible for the full 25 percent. The program is administered by the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS). Eligibility and project approval is determined by FEMA.
In September, GEMA/HS held applicant briefings with officials of eligible entities and nonprofit organizations in the designated counties to provide information on the application process, as well as deadlines for submission of necessary documents to receive federal reimbursement. The applicant briefings may be followed by face-to-face meetings in local communities between FEMA, state officials and eligible applicants.
GEMA/HS and FEMA are implementing the new Public Assistance delivery model in Georgia.
FEMA and its local, state and federal partners also are providing assistance to individuals and households affected by the storms in seven Georgia counties designated for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program, including: Camden, Charlton, Chatham, Coffee, Glynn, Liberty and McIntosh counties.
Individuals and households in the seven Georgia counties designated for the Individual Assistance program should register with FEMA. The fastest ways to register are by using the FEMA mobile app or online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
Survivors can also register by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585. Because of high demand, lines may be busy. Please be patient, and try calling in the morning or evening when call volume may be lower. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET, seven days a week. Survivors may also call the helpline with questions regarding their applications or the appeals process.
For more information on Georgia’s hurricane recovery, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4338 and gema.ga.gov
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Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.
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. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/femaregion4 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.