Emergency Centers Open

Three disaster recovery centers are now open to help people in 17 Georgia counties hit by storms and flooding that started late last month. The FEMA and Georgia Emergency Management Agency centers will provide help to people who had uninsured or under-insured losses. Officials ask that people try applying online at www.disasterassistance.gov or by phone at 800-621-3362 before visiting the centers. The centers, located in Douglas, Valdosta and Nahunta, are open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

(Associated Press)

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)

Gas Stations in NW Georgia Limiting Fuel Purchases

Several leading fuel analysts believe gas prices will return to pre-Hurricane Ike levels beginning Tuesday. These predictions are based on returning supply as oil production gets back online in the Houston area.

However, in parts of Georgia, some gas station owners in Georgia say they expect new fuel supplies next week.

One east Rome gas station owner says "We just don't have the gas to last much longer."

Many stations in the Rome area are limiting purchases to five gallons. Most stations in the area are charging 3.99 a gallon.

Hurricane Ike is already being dubbed the forgotten storm. While damage to refineries has been lighter than expected, the total cost of Ike is projected to be over 22 billion dollars.

Meanwhile, criticism of FEMA is mounting as residents try to return home after Ike.

FEMA cuts Macon funds

Residents in and around Macon are still cleaning up from a series of deadly tornadoes that ripped through the area in May. Now the federal government says there will be less money for that cleanup.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is deducting 130-thousand dollars from the amount it will pay the city. Officials at FEMA say Macon still owes them money from the Flood of 1994.
That flood came as a result of Tropical Storm Alberto and was the worst disaster in Macon's history. The city was without water for more than two weeks. FEMA says Macon did not properly document some expenses during the flood.
The cleanup for the so-called, Mothers Day Tornado's, that killed three, could cost Macon as much as 3-million dollars. FEMA will pay about 80-percent of those expenses, minus the 130-thousand dollars.

FEMA to cover most of Americus hospital rebuilding

Wrecking crews demolishing Sumter Regional Hospital earlier this year. The facility was severely damaged by a twister that tore through Americus on March 1, 2007. (Dave Bender/file photo)

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)has approved 75 percent of a $7.4 million dollar bill for rebuilding Sumter Regional Hospital in Americus, ravaged by a tornado in 2007.

The $5.5 million FEMA aid will help equip several departments, including operating rooms and cardiac care.

State and local funding is expected to cover the remainder of the cost, according to a statement from the Governor's Office.

The hospital served as the primary care facility for seven counties until it was destroyed when a twister that ripped through Americus on March first of last year.

Meanwhile, patients are using temporary facilities nearby, that opened on April 1.

Two of a series of COGIM units set up in the hospital's parking lot, which serve patients in the interim, until a permanent facility is built. (Dave Bender/file photo)

Hospital officials say they hope to break ground on a permanent structure in early 2009.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of the twister's damage to SRH and Americus.

FEMA denies storm aid

The federal government has turned down Cherokee County's request for disaster aid for victims of a tornado on May 20th. The money would have gone to uninsured victims. The twister caused about $3 million in uninsured damage. FEMA said it denied the request because there was not enough uninsured damage in the county to meet federal requirements.

FEMA adds $1.5 M to fire aid

Communities hit by a massive wildfire last year are getting more financial help from the federal government. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will reimburse the state $1.5 million. The money will to southeast Georgia’s Ware County to pay for costs associated with fighting the Sweat Farm Road Fire. It broke out on April 16, 2007, in Ware County. 82 fire departments helped. By the time it was contained two months later, it impacted over 500,000 acres, destroyed five homes, threatened 800 homes and businesses in the city of Waycross and forced about 2,100 evacuations. The total amount of federal reimbursement for the fire is now at $19 million.

Macon tornado clean up continues

Scenes of the tornado cleanup in Macon: a wood chipper grinds through debris, as a backhoe digs through hills of fallen trees nearby. (Josephine Bennet)

Macon Mayor Robert Reichert is urging residents to be patient. Nearly two months after an F-2 tornado crisscrossed its way through the city the cleanup continues.

Original predictions by the Federal Emergency Management Agency underestimated the amount of debris left by the storm. Reichert says 250 truckloads a day are being brought to a large dump site located near a paper mill operated by Graphic Packaging. The paper mill is recycling some of the debris. FEMA regulations say all trucks must be weighed and counted.

"We've got thousands of dump truck loads to gather up and bring here. Thousands of them. Each load has to be monitored to be sure that it is filled and appropriately packed because FEMA regulations require that the loads be monitored."

The mayor says it will be up to 60 days before they are finished. He says some of the wood waste is being turned into mulch. That mulch will eventually be available free of charge to residents.

Original estimates put the cost of debris removal at 1.2 million dollars. That figure is expected to rise.

FEMA to close some state disaster centers

Seven disaster recovery centers set-up by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the wake of recent spring tornadoes will be closing this weekend. Centers closing include in Darien, Dublin and Dry Branch. Those in Macon, Wrightsville and Carrollton will remain open for the time being. Residents in 10 affected counties can still apply for federal help until July 22nd to get assistance with things like temporary housing and home repairs.

Macon soon to receive federal aid

After a meeting with state and federal emergency management officials, Macon is one step closer to receiving federal dollars for tornado relief.

The city qualified for the money after President Bush declared several Georgia counties disaster areas. The designation clears the way for federal help. Officials from Macon and Bibb County learned how to navigate their way through a ten step process.

Gary Rice is with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency. He says one of the first steps is what FEMA calls an applicants briefing.

"What we do is we come in from the state side and try to brief the cities and counties that's been affected on the policies and procedures that we'll have to follow in order to qualify for Federal reimbursement," said Rice.

Local agencies are now submitting their financial proposals to FEMA and plan to meet in the coming weeks to kick off the recovery. The Mother's Day tornado's caused millions of dollars in damage in several Middle Georgia counties.

(Josephine Bennett reporting)

FEMA aid for twister-struck counties

The twister's aftermath along Eisenhower Parkway, Macon, May 12th, 2008. (Josephine Bennet)

President George W. Bush on Friday approved a Federal Disaster Declaration for the 14 counties that Governor Sonny Perdue requested aid for following the Mother's Day tornadoes and severe thunderstorms on May 11-12.

“I am grateful to President Bush and FEMA Director Paulison for their quick action in offering assistance,” Perdue said. “This Federal Disaster Declaration will broaden our capability to recover from these devastating storms.”

Individual assistance is now available to disaster victims in 10 counties: Bibb, Carroll, Douglas, Emanuel, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Laurens, McIntosh, and Twiggs.

Bush also designated that Bibb, Carroll, Crawford, Emanuel, Glynn, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Laurens, McIntosh, Treutlen, Twiggs and Wilkinson counties will all be able to receive federal funds to help offset 75 percent the cost of the initial emergency response, debris removal and restoration of damaged public facilities.

Low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration will also be available to cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance, according to a statement from the Governor's Office.

Perdue made the request May 16 for a federal declaration after touring the areas and reviewing preliminary damage assessment figures.

Residents and business owners in Bibb, Carroll, Douglas, Emanuel, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Laurens, McIntosh, and Twiggs counties 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 8:00 p.m. (local time) Monday through Sunday.

Click here and here for more GPB News coverage of the severe weather that struck much of central Georgia on Mother's Day.

Disaster relief centers open

Two disaster relief centers open today to help those in Fulton and Jefferson County affected by the severe storms and tornadoes.

The centers open from noon to 7 p.m. today and then operate from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. They are located at the Morris Brown College campus gymnasium in Atlanta and the Mt. Moriah Campground in Matthews.

Storm victims can apply for disaster relief at the FEMA and state agency-run centers.

GA disaster aid tops $35 M

The Georgia Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security say the funds were a combination of federal, state and local aid to tornado and storm-ravaged areas as of March 1, 2007, according to a DHS statement:

• $24,021,156.23 in public assistance funds
• $3,558,027.60 state share
• $20,463,128.63 FEMA share
• $9,770,700 in U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loans
• $5,682,200 for homeowners and renters
• $4,088,500 for businesses and economic injury loss
• $1,354,036 in disaster assistance to families
• $906,502 for housing assistance.
• $447,534 for other needs assistance
• $247,450 in disbursed federal disaster unemployment payments

Click here for more GPB severe weather coverage.

Americus, hospital plan to rebuild from the ruins

Sumter Regional Hospital, Americus, Ga., Feb. 4, 2008. (Dave Bender)

On March first of last year, a tornado ripped through Americus, killing two and devastating the community. What did the city learn and what are their plans if such a disaster strikes again?

The force-3 twister ripped apart lives, homes, businesses and vehicles in a two-mile wide-swath of destruction. Although much of the external damage has been fixed, city and county officials are still dealing with deeper issues of planning and preparation.

Mary Ann Crowley directs the Americus chapter of Habitat for Humanity:

“These kinds of events and catastrophes in the lives of communities are not 30-minute sitcoms. They don't start and end when you want them to. You can't do the instant replay and skip the parts that you don't like.”

Crowley says that long time residents of Habitat homes damaged in the tornado faced a welter of legal and insurance issues over ownership, that only a year later have been cleared up.

Little of the physical damage is left, according to Americus Mayor Barry Blount:

"Within 69 days the community was, essentially, cleaned up. The rebuilding, reconstruction has gone on - if you ride through town, you can see new buildings have been put up in place of the buildings that have been destroyed. We do still have some structures that are still, haven't been rebuilt; there are still some issues with insurance companies...”

But the biggest issue in town is the local hospital. Sumter County Regional was destroyed by the tornado.

A new interim facility will open in March, exactly one year after the disaster. A completely new hospital is planned to open by 2010.

The hospital is holding a fundraiser – one of several. They're selling off the bricks of the original 1953 structure, after the bulldozers bring them down.

But other shocks to Sumter County's system are still not resolved.

Blount says there's still no county-wide emergency warning system. The city has turned to the Federal and Georgia Emergency Management Authorities for help:

“We've applied for some grants from FEMA and GEMA; thus far, we have not received any for an emergency warning system.”

Blount is hopeful he'll get such a system in the coming year. But one thing has changed for the better since the tornado - communication between the Police, Sheriffs Department, city and county rescue services:

“We have rectified that, so that now all the different emergency personnel can communicate with one another.”

Turning to the home front, Blount says he's told residents that first and foremost they have to get their own houses in order. That means a supply of non-perishable food, water, an evacuation plan and an emergency radio with fresh batteries.

Blount's comments echo the “YOYO-72” idea, stressing individual preparation: You're On You're On for the first 72-hours.

On February 29th, Americus is planning a commemoration of that tornado-stricken night.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of the tornado, and efforts to rebuild Americus and lives affected by the storms.

Georgia FEMA team helps wildfire victims

A Georgia-based team from the Federal Emergency Management Agency is headed to California to help with the wildfires. The foursome will help communicate with evacuees at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. Thousands of people have sought refuge at the stadium as wildfires rage largely uncontrolled in southern California. The team is one of only two nationwide. The other is based in Chicago. In August, the Atlanta team deployed to help victims of Hurricane Dean.

FEMA releases more wildfire funds

Another $4-million dollars are coming to Georgia from the federal government to re-pay costs of fighting a massive wildfire this spring. This is the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s second installment toward the Sweat Farm Road Fire. The fire broke out April 16th in Ware County near Waycross and burned 80,000 acres over two months. FEMA reimburses 75% of approved firefighting costs, including equipment, materials, labor, food and lodging.

FEMA: breakdown of GA emergency aid

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reports that $27,968,851 million in federal and state assistance has been approved by their organization and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) to help eligible individuals, communities and counties recover from the March 1st twister and other storms that have ripped through Georgia.

Counties affected or aided include Baker, Clay, Crawford, Hancock, McDuffie, Mitchell, Muscogee, Stewart, Sumter, Taylor, Warren, Webster and Wilkinson counties, according to FEMA's latest update. Federal aid approved as of August 29, 2007 includes:

• $1,323,054 in disaster assistance has been approved through the Individuals and Households Program:
  
  
• $875,520 has been approved for Housing Assistance. This includes temporary disaster housing and help in restoring uninsured homes that were made unsafe, unsanitary or non-functional.
• $447,534 in disaster assistance has been approved for Other Needs Assistance (ONA). ONA awards are for disaster-related necessary expenses and serious needs such as medical or dental expenses; funeral expenses; moving and storage; transportation costs; and the repair or replacement of household appliances, clothing and necessary educational materials.
  
  
• $9,599,900 in loans has been approved by the SBA for homeowners, renters and businesses:
• $5,588,300 in loans for homeowners and renters.
• $4,011,600 in business loans.
• $93,235 in Disaster Unemployment Insurance has been disbursed.
• $16,952,662.23 in Public Assistance funds has been obligated.
• $ 2,463,344.34 state obligated
• $14,489,317.89 FEMA obligated

A county-by-county summary of Individual and Household Program assistance follows:

Georgia Tornado and Severe Storms Recovery
Individual and Household Program: HA - Housing Assistance ONA - Other Needs Assistance as of 8/29/07
County	HA Amount	ONA Amount	Total Individual Assistance
Baker	$120,988.24	$54,715.43	$175,703.67
Crawford	$29,255.99	$4,391.52	$33,647.51
Dougherty	$58,042.16	$1,711.86	$59,754.02
McDuffie	$67,617.17	$47,142.07	$114,759.24
Mitchell	$66,045.05	$3,104.73	$69,149.78
Sumter	$313,717.04	$303,929.71	$617,646.75
Taylor	$34,449.02	$11,756.77	$46,205.79
Warren	$80,365.47	$350.00	$80,715.47
Worth	$105,039.80	$20,432.09	$125,471.89
TOTAL	$875,519.94	$447,534.18	$1,323,054.12

More GPB News coverage of FEMA/GEMA funding, and where much of it is went is here.

Americus: FEMA pledges funding for hospital

Americus residents inspect overturned SUV, shattered hospital
building at Sumter Regional. (Dave Bender)

The Federal Emergency Management Bureau has pledged to provide significant financial aid to Sumter Regional Hospital, hammered by a tornado on March 1st.

The announcement came on Friday as 60 temporary housing units, known as COGIM arrived at the facility's parking-lot.

Hospital CEO and President David Seagraves told reporters at the site,

“We are happy to say that FEMA is on board on the financial side of things to build a new hospital...”

Hospital CFO Troy Hammett told the Americus Times-Recorder:

“FEMA’s not committed to paying a dollar amount, just 75 percent of what’s left after the insurance pays.”

Hospital officials say the interim facility is expected to begin handling patients in November.

Click here for more GPB News reports on this story.

Americus: Sumter Hospital to get almost $10 M

Vehicle flipped over by tornado in Sumter Regional
Hospital's parking lot. (Photo: Dave Bender)

FEMA will provide Sumter Hospital in Americus over nine-million-dollars in funding for temporary facilities. Both the hospital and the town sustained severe damage from a lethal twister on March 1st.

The funds are part of two projects to construct temporary facilities, known as COGIM units, until the main hospital is rebuilt.

Ambulance off-loads patient at hospital's makeshift
tent-triage area. (Photo: Dave Bender)

One project is for the structure's outer shell, and will cost just over $2 million dollars. The second, which will kit out the facility's interior, will run to almost seven-and-a-half-million dollars. The say the total bill for the renovation will cost nearly $12.5 million dollars.

Republican Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson announced the step on Monday.
Both termed the cash influx as vital, and praised the hospital and the community's ability to cope with hardships in the tornado's wake.

FEMA will distribute the money to the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, who will in turn disburse the funds to cover the project's expenses.

Sumter, Taylor Co. tornado survivors getting more help

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is awarding $471,000 dollars to Georgia's Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Diseases.

The funds will go toward extending a crisis counseling project for survivors of the tornado that devastated Sumter and Taylor counties March first.

Since the storm, hundreds of people have sought help overcoming psychological stress disorders. Many report suffering from feelings of despondency and helplessness.

Jeannette David, a mental health planner from the Department of Human Resources explains how outreach coordinators aid residents, providing them, "with information on how to cope, how to deal with the that stresses they're experiencing; and to let them know that, probably, any upset that they have or any stresses that they might be feeling is – normal, because they're reacting to an abnormal situation...”

The funding will continue until April, 2008.

More information is available on the survivor helpline at 1-800-342-7843.