ATLANTA – The Federal Emergency Management Agency continues to support communities recovering from Hurricane Irma. Seven Georgia Electric Membership Corporations were approved to receive more than $13.1 million to offset costs for power restoration.
Below is a breakdown of the FEMA grants:
Amicalola Electric Membership Corporation: Nearly $1.8 million to replace electrical lines, transformers and utility poles. The non-profit serves 37,367 customers in Gilmer, Pickens, Cherokee, Dawson and Lumpkin counties.
Central Georgia Electric Membership Corporation: Nearly $1.1 million to repair damage to the electrical distribution system. The non-profit serves 55,000 accounts in Bibb, Butts, Clayton, Fayette, Henry, Jasper, Jones, Lamar, Monroe, Morgan, Newton, Pike, Putnam, and Spalding counties.
Habersham Electric Membership Corporation: More than $2.3 million for repairs to the electric distribution system. The EMC provides service to 32,000 customers in northeastern Georgia, including Rabun, Habersham, White, Hall, Lumpkin and Stephens counties.
Jackson Electric Membership Corporation: Nearly $3.1 million to repair damage to the electrical distribution system. The non-profit serves more than 228,000 customers in Athens-Clarke, Banks, Barrow, Franklin, Gwinnett, Hall, Jackson, Lumpkin, Madison and Oglethorpe counties.
Satilla Rural Electric Membership Corporation: Nearly $2.2 million to repair damage to electrical lines and several transformers/utility poles. The EMC provides electrical service to 36,000 customers in Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Brantley, Coffee, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Pierce, Tattnall, Ware and Wayne counties.
Snapping Shoals Electric Membership Corporation: Nearly $1.4 million to replace electrical lines, transformers and utility poles. The non-profit serves 95,000 customers in Butts, DeKalb, Henry, Jasper, Morgan, Newton, Rockdale and Walton counties.
Walton Electric Membership Corporation: Nearly $1.2 million will reimburse Hurricane Irma-related expenses to replace electrical materials like poles and transformers. The non-profit provides electric power to over 128,000 customers in its 10-county service area between Atlanta and Athens, Ga.
The grants are provided through FEMA’s Public Assistance program which reimburses eligible applicants on a cost sharing basis up to 75 percent for actions taken in response to and recovery from a disaster. The remaining project costs are covered by non-federal sources.
FEMA obligated funding for these projects directly to the state to be administered through the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency. Following the state’s review process and upon receipt of appropriate documents from the applicant, the state will distribute the funds on a reimbursable basis.
The President’s major disaster declaration included 159 counties due to the extent of damage caused by Hurricane Irma. To date, FEMA has approved more than $72 million for the state under the Public Assistance grant program as a result of damage from Hurricane Irma.
Additional information about FEMA’s Public Assistance grant program can be found at https://www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit.
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FEMA’s Mission: Helping people before, during, and after disasters.