UPDATED: FEMA aid available to those affected by Helene
Federal assistance for Augusta-area residents affected by Hurricane Helene has been approved by President Joe Biden.
Joe Biden approved Georgia’s designation as a major disaster area according to releases from both the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the White House earlier today. The designation makes federal funding available to families and individuals affected by Helene in Appling, Brooks, Coffee, Columbia, Jefferson, Liberty, Lowndes, Pierce, Richmond, Tattnall, and Toombs counties. Funding is also available to state and local governments as well as certain nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for recovery work in the same counties.
A similar release, covering South Carolina, was issued yesterday. South Carolina counties covered are Aiken, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens, Saluda and Spartanburg counties.
Relief includes grants for home repairs and temporary housing, low-cost loans for some uninsured losses and a variety of additional programs focused on helping those affected rebuild.
Individuals, families, and business owners who have sustained losses in designated areas can begin the application process at www.disasterassistance.gov, by calling (800) 621-3362 or by using the FEMA app.
UPDATE 11:15 a.m. Wednesday:
Additional Georgia counties have been added to the FEMA federal relief list. These are: Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bulloch, Burke, Candler, Chatham, Clinch, Colquitt, Cook, Echols, Emanuel, Evans, Glascock, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Lincoln, McDuffie, Montgomery, Screven, Telfair, Treutlen, Ware, Washington, and Wheeler counties.