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Georgia Flooding

***Survivors of the Georgia floods need to register for federal assistance by Nov. 23 even if they’re still waiting for insurance settlements or other documentation. Individuals must register by 10 p.m. if applying for assistance by phone or midnight if their application is submitted online.

Nov. 23 also is the last day to return applications for low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

People in 17 disaster-affected counties can register by visiting www.disasterassistance.gov, or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY 800-462-7585. Phone lines are open every day from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET. Help is available in all languages.***

Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue has issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in 17 counties affected by severe weather and flooding that passed through Georgia. Gov. Perdue has also requested a federal disaster declaration from President Obama to assist the North Georgia and Metro Atlanta areas affected by the severe weather and flooding. A federal disaster declaration will make the state eligible for federal funding for emergency response measures and aid for losses.

Johnny has been in communication with state emergency officials as well as local government officials in counties affected by this severe weather and flooding. On September 25, 2009, he toured damaged areas with Vice President Biden, Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano and FEMA Administrator Fugate. Johnny believes it was very important for the administration to see firsthand the destruction that has taken place, and he hopes it helps them understand the urgency of getting help to all of Georgia’s affected communities.

On September 24, 2009, President Obama issued a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Georgia, triggering the release of Federal funds to help individuals recover from the severe storms and flooding that occurred September 18, 2009, and continuing.  Currently, the counties of Bartow, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, Gwinnett, Heard, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, Stephens and Walker have been designated for Individual Assistance, and all counties are eligible to apply for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

Individual Assistance can include temporary housing assistance for eligible applicants such as rental assistance and repair assistance. Individuals in Bartow, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, Gwinnett, Heard, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, Stephens and Walker counties are encouraged to register with FEMA by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY (800) 462-7585 for individuals with speech or hearing disabilities.  For those with Internet access, they may apply for disaster assistance online at www.disasterassistance.gov.

Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Crawford, Dawson, DeKalb, Dooly, Douglas, Fulton, Gwinnett, Heard, Houston, Newton, Paulding, Peach, Rockdale, Stephens, Taylor and Walker counties are also now eligible for Public Assistance. This assistance provides funding on a cost-sharing basis to local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for the repair or replacement of damaged roads, dams, bridges, water treatment facilities, publicly-owned utilities and other types of infrastructure.

Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments are ongoing, and additional designations may be made after further evaluation. FEMA is monitoring the situation and will continue to notify the public of additional determinations.

The Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) will work with state agencies, utility companies and volunteer organizations to coordinate disaster response and recovery activities and serve our citizens. GEMA is the lead state agency for coordination of emergency and disaster response activities. For the most up-to-date emergency information, visit GEMA's Web site at http://www.gema.state.ga.us/.

The latest road closures can be found at http://www.georgia-navigator.com/ or by calling 5-1-1. Individuals are advised to avoid driving through any standing water.

An updated list of shelters operated by the American Red Cross, Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter, is available at http://www.atlantaredcross.org/.

Individuals affected by the severe weather and flooding should call their County Emergency Management Agency to report any damage that has been incurred. Individuals should also try to keep track of any specific expenses they incur as part of clean-up or other activity regarding the damage. Also they should take pictures of the damage. The county agency will come out and assess the damage. The county agency will then report the damage to GEMA who will then submit this information to the Governor's Office. This information will then be used to determine if other counties might qualify for disaster relief.

FEMA Instructions for Filing Your Flood Insurance Claim - http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=49852

Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) - http://www.gema.state.ga.us/

Road Closures - http://www.georgia-navigator.com/ or call 5-1-1

The American Red Cross, Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter - http://www.atlantaredcross.org/

United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta - http://www.unitedwayatlanta.org/e0-DisasterPrep.asp or call 2-1-1

Salvation Army of Metro Atlanta - http://www.uss.salvationarmy.org/uss/www_uss_atlanta.nsf/

Disaster Recovery Centers are open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week until further notice at the following locations:

Carroll County Old Greenway Medical Building 590 Hays Mill Road Carrollton, GA 30117	Douglas County Heritage Baptist Church 8800 Rose Ave. Douglasville, GA 30134
Chattooga County Trion School 919 All Good St. Trion, GA 30753	Paulding County Paulding County Community Center 54 Industrial Way N Dallas, GA 30132
Cherokee County Cherokee County Parks and Recreation Department Gym 200 Building 7545 Main St. Woodstock, GA 30188	Stephens County Stephens County Senior Center 199 Hayley Drive Toccoa, GA, 30577
Cobb County The Threadmill, Suite 120 5000 Austell/Powder Springs Road Austell, GA 30106	Walker County Walker County Agricultural Center 10054 North Highway 27 Rock Spring, GA 30739
Douglas County Lithia Springs First United Methodist Church 3711 Temple St. Lithia Springs, GA 30122

Disaster Recovery Centers are operated by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Individuals who sustained damage during the severe weather and flooding that passed through Georgia can obtain information about disaster assistance at any of the Disaster Recovery Centers.

Once an individual has applied for assistance with FEMA, disaster recovery specialists at the recovery center can check an individual’s case, answer questions about their claim or review information needed to process their claim. Recovery specialists also can supply contacts for other programs that may be able to help.

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) representatives also will be at the Disaster Recovery Centers to answer any questions about the SBA’s low-interest disaster loan program for homeowners, renters, businesses and private non-profit organizations of all sizes. These loans are to repair or replace real estate and/or personal property damaged by the storms and flooding.

Representatives will help complete and accept SBA disaster loan applications. Anyone not able to go to a Disaster Recovery Center should call the SBA Customer Service Center from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., EST, toll-free at 800-659-2955 for information and assistance, or visit the SBA Web site at http://www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.