Georgia Receives Presidential Disaster Declaration
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
- Organization: Georgia Emergency Management Agency
(ATLANTA) - President George W. Bush approved a Federal Disaster Declaration today for Sumter County, following an expedited request by Governor Sonny Perdue, in the wake of severe weather that hit southwest Georgia Thursday night, killing nine people and damaging hundreds of homes and businesses.
The federal declaration covers individual assistance and can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses. Low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration also will be available to cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance.
"We have some hard work ahead of us and we appreciate the prompt response by President Bush and FEMA," said Governor Perdue, "It will greatly help the citizens whose lives have been disrupted."
Governor Perdue declared a state of emergency in Baker, Clay, Crawford, McDuffie, Mitchell, Muscogee, Stewart, Sumter and Taylor counties after the storm struck. The state of emergency cleared the way for the massive deployment of state personnel and equipment and paved the way for the Presidential Declaration. Perdue made the request for a federal declaration after touring the area and reviewing preliminary damage assessment figures.
The Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) is coordinating the state's response effort. "Our state operations center remains activated," says GEMA Director Charley English. "Damage assessment teams are continuing to work in all affected areas of the state to assess losses."
Agencies responding to the incident include GEMA, Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Department of Transportation, Georgia Forestry Commission, Georgia Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner's Office, Georgia Department of Human Resources Division of Public Health, Department of Natural Resources, Georgia Department of Defense (National Guard), Public Service Commission, Georgia Mutual Aid Group, and the Central Georgia Search and Rescue Team. Representatives from the Georgia Baptist Disaster Services, the American Red Cross (ARC), the Salvation Army, and Seventh Day Adventists also are on hand to assist local communities. Many adjacent counties are providing essential mutual aid assistance.
Residents and business owners in Sumter County who sustained losses can begin applying for assistance by registering online at http://www.fema.gov/ or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (local time) Monday through Saturday.
GEMA is the lead state agency for coordination of emergency and disaster response activities. For more emergency information and updates, contact
GEMA at 1-800-TRY-GEMA (1-800-879-4362) or visit www.gema.state.ga.us
