Hurricane Helene Resources

Robin and I continue to pray for the district in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. I am staying in constant contact with my state and local counterparts and am traveling the district to help those in need and assess the widespread damage. Thank you to those who have done their part to help our neighbors and friends.

President Biden granted Major Disaster Designation for some initial counties in Georgia following the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene, which began on September 24, 2024. This declaration enables the release of federal funds to assist individuals, households, and communities impacted by the hurricane in their recovery efforts.

For individual assistance, residents in the following 24 counties of Georgia's 12th District may be eligible for support:

• Bulloch
• Burke
• Candler
• Columbia
• Effingham
• Emanuel
• Evans
• Glascock
• Jefferson
• Jenkins
• Johnson
• Laurens
• Lincoln
• McDuffie
• Montgomery
• Richmond
• Screven
• Tattnall
• Toombs
• Treutlen
• Warren
• Washington
• Wheeler
• Wilkes

Individuals in the listed counties may apply for federal assistance by visiting www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling FEMA's application hotline at 1-800-621-3362. TTY services are also available for hearing-impaired individuals at 800-462-7585. Please take the necessary steps to apply for assistance and reach out if you are having any issues with this federal agency.

If your home, business, or other property has been damaged, it's also important to report it as soon as possible. You can report damages by visiting https://damage-assessment-gema-soc.hub.arcgis.com/ and clicking on the "Report Damage" button.

For assistance with cleaning up damage caused by Hurricane Helene, call the Crisis Cleanup Hotline at 844-965-1386.

USDA also offers a suite of disaster assistance programs that can help Georgia-12 farmers and producers recover. More information can be found HERE.

Areas affected by Hurricane Helene are also eligible for 30 days of free Starlink service to help with response and recovery efforts. Learn more HERE.

To check the status of your electricity restoration time, visit Georgia Power's website HERE.

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:

Business Recovery Centers (BRCs)

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

Additionally, please find disaster resources below that may be available to you and your family.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Programs:

• Application: DisasterAssistance.gov, via the official FEMA app, or by calling (800) 621-3362
• Serious Needs Assistance (SNA)
• Provides a one-time, direct payment of up to $750 for disaster victims with immediate needs, such as water, food, first aid, breast-feeding supplies, infant formula, diapers, personal hygiene items, or fuel for transportation.
• Individuals and Households Program (IHP)
• Assists disaster victims with paying for temporary housing while the primary residence is uninhabitable, supporting the repair or replacement of owner-occupied homes, acquiring a temporary housing unit, making certain qualified disaster mitigation improvements, and other uninsured or under-insured disaster-caused expenses and serious needs.
• Maximum Amount Provided: $42,500.
• Other Needs Assistance (ONA)
• Assists with disaster-related medical and dental expenses, to include injury or illness, loss of medical equipment; damage to an essential vehicle; disaster-related funeral and burial expenses; disaster-related child-care expenses.
• Maximum Amount Provided: $42,500.
• Rental Assistance and Continued Rental Assistance
• Provides grants for survivors to cover housing costs while your home is repaired or rebuilt, or while you search for a new place to rent. Includes funding for security deposits, rent, essential utilities, short-term hotel stays, and moving and storage assistance.
• Approved individuals will receive two months of assistance, but can request a three-month extension for up to 18 months if your pre-disaster residence remains uninhabitable due to the disaster or you can demonstrate a disaster-caused financial need.
• Maximum Amount Provided: FEMA will pay Fair Market Rate (FMR) plus an allowance for utilities.
• Displacement Assistance (DA)
• Covers the costs associated with lodging in a hotel or motel, staying with family or friends, or for any other available housing options.
• Maximum Amount Provided: Based on the rate of 14 days of hotel costs for the area impacted by the disaster.
• Disaster Legal Services (DLS)
• Provides legal assistance to qualifying individuals, which may include help with insurance claims, powers of attorney, new wills and lost legal documents, problems with landlords, FEMA appeals, home repair contracts and contractor fraud.

Small Business Administration Disaster Loans:

• Application: Apply online or by calling (800) 659-2955
• Provides low-interest loans to help disaster victims recover from disasters.
• Homeowners can borrow up to $500,000 to repair or replace their primary residence.
• Renters and homeowners can borrow up to $100,000 to replace personal property, including vehicles.
• Businesses and private nonprofit organizations can borrow up to $2,000,000 to repair or replace covered losses.

Department of Labor Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA):

• DUA funds are provided directly to affected states. If your job is interrupted or lost because of a qualifying disaster and you are not eligible for regular unemployment insurance benefits, including because you are self-employed, DUA can provide compensation.
• Maximum Amount Provided: The maximum weekly benefit is determined by the state law for unemployment compensation in the state where the disaster occurred.
• To learn more or apply for DUA, please visit https://dol.georgia.gov/disaster-unemployment-assistance#toc-application-process-for-dua-benefits-2.

Department of Agriculture Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP):

• Application: Contact a state or local office or call 211
• Provides food assistance to qualifying households with food loss, property damage, employment interruption, dislocation, personal-injury, or other impacts caused by a disaster.

Internal Revenue Service Disaster Tax Relief:

• Information: 800-829-3676, Deduction form: Form 4684

Tax relief provisions are available to individuals and businesses affected by Federally declared disasters. Disaster survivors might be eligible for extra time to complete taxes or certain emergency-related

We have also compiled a list of helpful contact information and links per county in the 12th District. Please reach out to allen.house.gov/contact if you see any information that needs to be updated.

BULLOCH
Bulloch County Emergency Management: (912)-489-3453 or [email protected]
Bulloch County Public Safety and EMA FB
Grice Connect – Hurricane Helene Resources & Information FB

BURKE
Burke County Emergency Management: (706)-554-6651 or [email protected]
Burke County, Georgia | Waynesboro GA | Facebook
Burke County Chamber Of Commerce | Waynesboro GA | Facebook

CANDLER
Candler County Emergency Management: (912)-682-2554 or [email protected]
Candler County Sheriff’s Office FB Page
Metter-Candler County Chamber of Commerce FB Page
Metter Advertiser FB Page

COLUMBIA
Columbia County Emergency Management: (706)-868-3303 or [email protected]
Columbia County EMA FB Page
Columbia County Chamber of Commerce FB Page
Columbia County Government FB Page

EFFINGHAM
Effingham County Emergency Management: (912)-754-8200 or [email protected]
Effingham County Board of Commissioners FB
Effingham County Sheriff’s Office FB

EMANUEL
 Emanuel County Emergency Management: (478)-237-3169 or [email protected]
Live Emanuel County FB Page
Emanuel County Board of Commissioners FB Page
Emanuel County Sheriff's Office FB Page
Emanuel County Schools FB Page

EVANS
Evans County Emergency Management: (912)-739-1611 or [email protected]
Evans County EMA FB
Evans County Sheriff’s Office FB
Claxton-Evans Chamber of Commerce FB

GLASCOCK
Glascock County Emergency Management: (706)-598-2811 or [email protected]
Glascock County Sheriff’s Office FB

JEFFERSON
Jefferson County Emergency Management: (478)-625-4102 or [email protected]
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office FB Page
Jefferson County Board of Commissioners FB Page
Jefferson County Chamber FB Page
City of Louisville FB Page

JENKINS
Jenkins County Emergency Management: (706)-871-2979 or [email protected]
Jenkins County EMA FB
The Millen News FB

JOHNSON
Johnson County Emergency Management: (478)-864-9759 or [email protected]
Johnson County FB Page
Johnson County EMA FB Page

LAURENS
Laurens County Emergency Management: (478)-275-7099 or [email protected]
Dublin-Laurens County EMA FB Page
Laurens County FB Page
Laurens County Georgia Sheriff's Department

LINCOLN
Lincoln County Emergency Management: (706)-359-4855 or [email protected]
Lincoln County Government FB

MCDUFFIE
McDuffie County Emergency Management: (706)-595-2045 or [email protected]
McDuffie Chamber of Commerce Office FB
McDuffie County Sheriff’s Office FB

MONTGOMERY
Montgomery County Emergency Management: (912)-583-2840 or [email protected]
Montgomery County Concerned Citizens | Please share, please share… | Facebook
Montgomery County Schools | Ailey GA | Facebook

RICHMOND
Richmond County Emergency Management: (706)-821-2909 or [email protected]
Augusta-Richmond County Fire/EMA FB Page
Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce FB Page
Augusta Chronicle FB Page
The Augusta Press FB Page

SCREVEN
Screven County Emergency Management: (912)-564-8956 or [email protected]
Screven County Chamber of Commerce | Sylvania GA | Facebook
Screven County Board of Commissioners | Sylvania GA | Facebook

TATTNALL
Tattnall County Emergency Management: (912)-557-1911 or [email protected]
Tattnall County Sheriff's Office FB
Tattnall County EMA FB

TOOMBS
Toombs County Emergency Management: (912)-526-6424 or [email protected]
Toombs County Sheriff's Office FB Page
City of Vidalia Georgia Police Department FB Page
Toombs County Schools FB Page