3-M In Fed Funds To Help Flood Areas

Georgia will get more than $3 million in federal money to help restore flood-prone areas. The funds will cover over 500 acres within the Emergency Watershed Protection Program. That program allows the government to acquire easements on land—either private or owned by state and local governments—that’s been damaged at least once within a year’s time, or twice in 10 years. Federal conservation officials will fund the work to restore land to its natural state.

Governor Perdue Requests Presidential Major Disaster Declaration

Governor Sonny Perdue today requested a Presidential disaster declaration which would lead to federal aid for severe weather and flood damages in 33 Georgia counties.

“The recent floods in south Georgia have adversely impacted the lives of many Georgians,” said Governor Perdue. “The requested disaster funding will help residents, businesses and local governments recover from this disaster and rebuild their lives.”

Governor Perdue also issued an Executive Order today declaring a state of emergency in 17 additional counties affected by heavy rain and severe weather that have passed through Georgia since March 27. The counties are: Appling, Bacon, Brantley, Clinch, Dodge, Dougherty, Echols, Grady, Irwin, Lanier, Montgomery, Pierce, Toombs, Upson, Ware, Wheeler and Wilcox.

Previously, 16 counties were included in the State of Emergency orders, including Atkinson, Baker, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Calhoun, Coffee, Colquitt, Decatur, Early, Lowndes, Miller, Mitchell, Tift, Turner and Worth. When joint state-federal damage assessments began on April 7, officials determined that more counties needed to be added emergency declaration. The additional counties reported disruptions to a large number of roads, bridges, drainage systems, waste treatment facilities and other crucial infrastructure.

Some examples of the impact of the severe weather and flooding on these counties include: 36 local road closures; 16 federal and state route closures; five damaged wastewater treatment facilities; five damaged neighborhood or community sanitary sewer lift stations; three damaged public drinking water systems; six damaged bridges; and 20 reported school system closures.

Governor Perdue's request follows joint surveys conducted over the past several days by local, state and federal damage assessment teams, which is a requirement of the disaster declaration process. Initial damage assessments conducted over a widespread area revealed that more than 600 homes were damaged.

Governor Perdue requested Public Assistance (PA) programs for 30 of the counties: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Baker, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Calhoun, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Dodge, Early, Echols, Grady, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Miller, Mitchell, Montgomery, Pierce, Tift, Toombs, Turner, Upson, Ware, Wheeler, Wilcox and Worth. PA programs provide funding for debris removal, emergency protective measures, roads and bridges, water control facilities, buildings and equipment, utilities, and parks and recreational facilities.

In addition, the Governor requested Individual Assistance (IA) programs for 18 of the counties: Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Coffee, Colquitt, Decatur, Dougherty, Echols, Lanier, Lowndes, Miller, Mitchell, Pierce, Tift, Ware, Wheeler and Worth. IA programs include funding for the Individuals and Households Program, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Crisis Counseling, Disaster Legal Services, and Small Business Administration disaster loans.

“Damage assessments completed to date confirm that damage from the flooding left hundreds of Georgians in need of assistance,” said Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) Director Charley English. “Our agency will continue working with local emergency officials to provide needed state resources and pursue available federal assistance.”

Joint state and federal damage assessment teams will continue to work to determine the full scope of the damage to businesses, residences and public facilities in all counties reporting damage to ensure that all who qualify for assistance will be included.

GEMA is the lead state agency for coordination of emergency and disaster response activities. For more emergency information, visit GEMA's Web site at www.gema.ga.gov. To learn how to prepare for disaster, visit www.ready.ga.gov . For more information on federal assistance programs please go to www.fema.gov.

(Governor's Office News Release)

Flood watch through tonight

North Georgia is still recovering from waves of driving rain as the remnants of Tropical Storm Fay rumbled through today. Fay snarled traffic, swelled rivers and brought a much needed drenching to the drought-stricken state. A flood watch is in effect for the northern half of the state through tonight. The National Weather Service says no major flooding has been reported. The drenching has helped Lake Lanier, metro Atlanta's main water supply, surge more than 4 inches in the span of a day.

Heavy rains flood town

Parts of Claxton, west of Savannah, are cleaning up after being flooded today. Authorities say the town received seven inches of rain in three hours. Police there say at least four houses were flooded after the rain fell early Thursday morning. Some of the town's streets were also flooded and numerous cars stalled out in the high water.

Georgia lands $3M for flood prevention

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is investing more than $3-million dollars to prevent flooding in Georgia. The money is going to the cities of Decatur near Atlanta and Savannah, as well as DeKalb and Douglas Counties. Those communities will use the money to get rid of residential properties that are at high-risk for flooding.