ATLANTA, Ga. - On Wednesday, considered one of FEMA’s prime officers will go to Georgia to survey the harm suffered from final week’s tornadoes.
FEMA Deputy Administrator Erik A. Hooks will go to Troup County and Spalding County earlier than participating in a press convention in Griffin on Wednesday afternoon.
The go to comes a day after President Joe Biden ushered by way of an expedited ‘main catastrophe declaration’ for seven Georgia counties: Troup, Spalding, Meriwether, Butts, Henry and Jasper.
Gov. Brian Kemp and the state requested the declaration on Monday after recognizing the widespread harm from the sequence of tornadoes that swept by way of Georgia Thursday.
“The particles and the emergency response to this explicit catastrophe has been far more than the state and the locals may bear on their very own,” mentioned Chris Stallings, Director of the Georgia Emergency Administration Company.
Stallings mentioned this was the primary time the state had obtained an expedited ‘main catastrophe declaration’ in current historical past.
He mentioned that the state rapidly met the $18.9 million threshold in estimated harm wanted to qualify for the catastrophe declaration and FEMA funding.
Stallings mentioned that beginning on Wednesday GEMA will publish the place FEMA will set up pop-up catastrophe restoration facilities.
At these websites, householders, renters and enterprise house owners will be capable of work face-to-face with FEMA workers to assist them navigate the method to receiving federal aid funding.
“We’ll assist you to stroll by way of that in order that it’s not a swing and a miss, you’re simply guessing at it. Now we have a complete staff starting tomorrow in all of the affected areas,” mentioned Stallings.
In Spalding County, officers mentioned roughly 1,800 clients are nonetheless with out energy. That could be a drastic enchancment in comparison with the estimated 10,000 who suffered energy outages on Thursday.
An official for Griffin Spalding County Colleges mentioned there isn't any ETA on when public faculties will resume throughout the county.
The district mentioned roughly 32% of scholars are nonetheless displaced, in response to a survey despatched out to folks. 5 p.c of workers stay displaced, in response to district officers.
Hooks, Stallings and native officers are anticipated to carry a press convention in Griffin at 1 p.m. Wednesday to offer extra info on learn how to entry FEMA aid grants.
Should you’re within the impacted counties, GEMA officers mentioned step one to receiving federal funds is to file a declare at www.disasterassistance.gov.