ATLANTA - Governor Nathan Deal announced today that President Barack Obama approved a federal disaster declaration for 15 counties that bore the brunt of ice and snow on Feb. 15-17, 2015. The winter weather caused 225,000 customers to lose power and also rendered many roads impassable.
“I appreciate the hard work of our entire state team during the winter storm response and am grateful for their efforts to keep our residents safe," said Jim Butterworth, Director of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security (GEMA/HS). "This federal assistance will be of great help to these 15 counties that incurred response and recovery costs associated with the winter storm."
The president has designated that local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations in Banks, Barrow, Dawson, Elbert, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Jackson, Lumpkin, Madison, Oglethorpe, Pickens, Stephens and White counties are eligible to receive federal funds to help offset 75 percent of eligible costs of debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the repair or replacement for disaster-related damages, as determined by FEMA.
As winter weather threatened the state on Feb. 15, Governor Deal quickly recognized the severity of the situation and declared a state of emergency for 15 north Georgia counties. Over the next two days, due to significant damage, impassable roads and widespread power outages, Governor Deal expanded the state of emergency, adding nine more north Georgia counties.
GEMA/HS may request preliminary damage assessments be conducted in additional counties as further information on local damage reports becomes available. More counties may be made eligible after further evaluation by local, state and federal officials.
This disaster declaration also makes all counties in Georgia eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which provides assistance to state and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for actions taken to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural hazards.
For more information on GEMA/HS, visit www.gema.ga.gov. To learn how to prepare for disaster and create a custom kit and plan, visit www.ready.ga.gov. For specific risks in your community, contact your local emergency management agency. Follow GEMA at www.twitter.com/georgiaema, www.facebook.com/gema.ohs, and www.youtube.com/ReadyGAfromGEMA.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2015/4/304837/president-obama-oks-fed-aid-for-15-ga-counties