President Biden approves federal aid for Georgia after Hurricane Debby

Federal assistance authorized to support Georgia's response to Hurricane Debby

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT)- President Biden declared that an emergency exists in the State of Georgia and ordered federal assistance to supplement state and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Debby, which began on Sunday.

The President’s action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate all disaster relief efforts aimed at alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population. This assistance is intended to provide necessary aid for required emergency measures, as authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives, protect property and public health, and mitigate the threat of a catastrophe.

Federal assistance will include Public Assistance (Category B) emergency protective measures, with 75 percent federal funding for direct assistance and reimbursement for mass care, including evacuation and shelter support. This aid will cover the counties of Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Crisp, Decatur, Dodge, Echols, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Glynn, Grady, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Long, Lowndes, McIntosh, Mitchell, Montgomery, Pierce, Richmond, Screven, Tattnall, Telfair, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Turner, Ware, Wayne, Wheeler, Wilcox, and Worth.