Georgia Mountain News

Rep. Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA) has joined Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and the entire Georgia congressional delegation in urging swift approval of Georgia’s request for a Major Federal Disaster Declaration. This declaration would provide essential federal disaster funding for families, businesses, and local governments affected by Hurricane Helene.

Following the completion of disaster assessments by Georgia’s Emergency Management Agency (GEMA), Governor Brian Kemp formally requested that the President declare a major disaster in Georgia.

The Georgia congressional delegation is pressing President Biden to approve the request quickly, which would unlock various federal assistance programs for counties impacted by Hurricane Helene. These programs include funds for both individuals and public infrastructure.

The members wrote, “to convey full support for Governor Brian Kemp’s request for an expedited major disaster declaration for the counties in the State of Georgia significantly impacted by Hurricane Helene.”

They continued, “We encourage your team to promptly consider Governor Kemp’s request for a major disaster declaration, and we stand ready to work with you and your Administration to support these critical recovery efforts in Georgia.”

Governor Kemp has requested Public Assistance for several counties including Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Baker, Baldwin, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bleckley, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Calhoun, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clay among others.

He has also requested Individual Assistance for counties such as Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill Berrien Brantley Bryan Brooks Bulloch Burke Butts Camden Candler Charlton Chatham Clinch Coffee Colquitt Columbia Cook Echols Effingham Elbert Emanuel Evans Glynn Irwin Jeff Davis Jefferson Jenkins Johnson Lanier Laurens Liberty Long Lowndes McDuffie McIntosh Montgomery Newton Pierce Rabun Richmond Tattnall Telfair Tift Toombs Treutlen Ware Wayne Counties.