Biden approves major disaster declaration for Georgia Helene damage

Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2 p.m.: Updated to add new counties to declaration and application information.

ATLANTA – President Joe Biden has approved a major disaster declaration for Georgia in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

The Biden administration’s action means funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be available to affected residents in counties in southeastern Georgia hit hardest by last Friday’s storm: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Bulloch, Burke, Candler, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Echols, Emanuel, Evans, Glascock, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Lincoln, Lowndes, McDuffie, Montgomery, Pierce, Richmond, Screven, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Ware, Washington, and Wheeler counties.

Apply online at https://www.DisasterAssistance.gov or at the FEMA app .

The application phone number at 1-800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585).

Georgians can find at resource guide for applicaitons for Individual and public assistance programs at this link .

The White House and the State of Georgia continue to assess other areas of the state, and after the assessments are fully completed by GEMA and FEMA, more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated.

Meanwhile, work crews for Georgia Power and the state’s Electric Membership Corporations (EMCs) reported that about 370,000 customers were still without electricity as of Monday. More then 1.3 million lost power at Helene’s peak.

The hurricane made landfall Thursday night in the Big Bend area of Florida’s Gulf Coast before roaring into Georgia early Friday morning, bringing high winds and heavy rain that caused extensive flooding. Gov. Brian Kemp reported Monday that 25 Georgians died in the storm, many inside homes hit by fallen trees.

The victims included a first responder, Vernon “Leon” Davis, a part-time assistant fire chief in Blackshear.

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the 11 counties covered by the federal disaster declaration can begin applying for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 1-800-621-3362, or by using the FEMA App.

This story available through a news partnership with Capitol Beat, an initiative of the Georgia Press Educational Foundation.