Hurricane Helene

Major Disaster Declaration for Individual & Public Assistance

The Major Disaster Declaration for Hurricane Helene now covers Stephens and Wilkes counties for Individual Assistance. Public Assistance will cover Baldwin, Crisp and Paulding counties.

The following counties were previously approved for Individual Assistance following assessments: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Butts, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Dodge, Echols, Effingham, Elbert, Emanuel, Evans, Fulton, Glascock, Glynn, Hancock, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Lincoln, Long, Lowndes, McDuffie, McIntosh, Montgomery, Newton, Pierce, Rabun, Richmond, Screven, Taliaferro, Tattnall, Telfair, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Ware, Warren, Washington, Wayne, and Wheeler.

Individual Assistance can fund individual and family recovery efforts, which may include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of Hurricane Helene.

The following counties were previously approved for Public Assistance following assessments: Banks, Bleckley, Dawson, Decatur, Dooly, Franklin, Gilmer, Grady, Greene Habersham, Hart, Jackson, Jasper, Lamar, Lumpkin, Madison, Mitchell, Monroe, Morgan, Oglethorpe, Pike, Pulaski, Putnam, Stephens, Turner, Twiggs, White, Wilcox, Wilkes, Wilkinson and Worth.

Public Assistance can fund debris removal and emergency work on a public facility and may assist with funding for permanently restoring community infrastructure affected by a federally declared incident. Eligible applicants include state and local government entities and qualified non-profit (PNP) organizations.  

For more information on how to apply for Public Assistance, click here.

There are several ways to apply for Individual Assistance: 

• Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov
• Use the FEMA App 
• Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362

The telephone line is open every day and help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service such as Video Relay Service, captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.

FEMA & SBA Recovery Centers

In response to the impacts of Hurricane Helene, FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) have established Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) and Business Recovery Centers (BRCs) across the state to assist individuals and businesses in their recovery efforts. These centers provide guidance on applying for disaster assistance, including both Individual Assistance (FEMA) and Business Loans (SBA).

Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs)

Individuals impacted by the disaster can visit the following DRC locations for assistance:

Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers (MDRCs)

SBA 

Business Recovery Centers (BRCs)

Business owners and individuals can apply for both SBA disaster loans and FEMA Individual Assistance at the following BRC locations:

For more information on how to apply for disaster assistance, visit FEMA.gov or contact the U.S. Small Business Administration at SBA.gov.

SBA Portable Loan Outreach Center (PLOC)

In order to meet disaster survivors where they are, the SBA has opened a Portable Loan Outreach Center in Valdosta.

Richmond County
Behind Parker's Kitchen, 4104 Windsor Spring Rd, Hephzibah, GA 30815

• Hours: Monday to Friday: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. | Saturday: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. | Sunday: Closed

Disaster Unemployment

How to File for Unemployment Benefits in Georgia

If you’re seeking unemployment assistance, including potential federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA), here’s what you need to know to get started. The first step is filing a regular state unemployment claim. This information sheet will guide you through setting up an account, filing your claim, and understanding your responsibilities as a claimant. Click here for more information.

Report Damages

Should you have damages to your home, business, or any other property, it's important to report them promptly. You can do so by visiting https://damage-assessment-gema-soc.hub.arcgis.com/ and selecting the Report Damage button. Alternatively, you can scan the QR code provided for hassle-free reporting.

Local Emergency Management Agencies

If you need assistance, contact your local Emergency Management Agency. Click here to find the listing of all Georgia EMAs.

Hurricane Response Business Resources

Hurricane Helene left devastating impacts, and businesses like yours have a critical role to play in the recovery efforts. Whether you're a local business or part of a global organization, your support can make a significant difference in helping affected communities rebuild and recover. For real-time updates and emergency resources for business operations across Georgia throughout the impact and recovery of Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene, visit https://georgia.org/operations-alert for more information.

Emergency Prescription Assistance Program (EPAP)

EPAP is a federal initiative managed by the Department of Health and Human Services. It provides an efficient way for community pharmacies to process claims for prescription medications, vaccines, limited medical supplies, and durable medical equipment (DME) for individuals from disaster areas declared by the President. To learn more, click here.

Donations 

Monetary

If you'd like to contribute financially to support the individuals in Georgia impacted by Hurricane Helene, we have compiled a list of counties where your donations will be greatly appreciated.

Report Fraud, Waste, Abuse, or Mismanagement in Disaster Relief Operations

If you, as an applicant or state partner, have knowledge of fraud, waste, abuse, or allegations of mismanagement related to disaster relief operations, you can report it directly to FEMA or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). You may choose to request confidentiality or submit your complaint anonymously.

How to Report:

1. FEMA Fraud Branch:
   • Email: [email protected]
   • Fax: (202) 212-4926
   • Mail:
     • FEMA Fraud and Internal Investigation Division
       400 C Street SW
       Mail Stop 3005
       Washington, DC 20472-3005

Additional Resources