ATLANTA DISASTER ASSISTANCE UPDATE: THREE WEEKS INTO DISASTER RECOVERY

More than three weeks have passed since severe storms and tornadoes ripped through Atlanta. Local, state and federal officials are working to help get affected Atlantans back on their feet.

The City of Atlanta would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our government, community and non-profit partners, as well as our residents for their continued assistance over the last three weeks of disaster recovery.

On March 20, 2008, Fulton and DeKalb counties were declared eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Individual Assistance programs under a major disaster declaration and subsequent amendments. Fulton County was also declared eligible for FEMA’s Public Assistance program, which helps rebuild public infrastructure.

Three Week Update:

As of April 10, 2008, in Atlanta (Fulton and DeKalb counties) a total of 1,014 individuals, households and businesses have applied for disaster assistance since the Presidential declaration March 20.

327 people impacted by the disaster visited the three Atlanta mobile and fixed-site Disaster Recovery Centers to meet with disaster recovery specialist before the centers closed on April 5, 2008.

In the seven affected counties in Georgia, a total of 1,387 individuals, households and businesses have applied for disaster assistance and 287 individuals and households have been approved for $1,058,700 in disaster-related assistance under the Individuals and Households Program.

Of that total, 260 homeowners and renters have been approved for more than $645,000 under FEMA’s Housing Assistance Program. Housing Assistance helps pay for rental assistance, temporary lodging and housing repairs.

Through FEMA’s Other Needs Assistance Program, 119 individuals and households have been approved for $181,000. Other Needs Assistance helps cover personal property loss, medical costs and other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance to individuals and households.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has issued 837 applications for disaster loans to individuals and businesses. To date six households have been approved for a total of $231,700 in low-interest disaster-related loans. The SBA provides disaster loans to homeowners, renters, non-profit organizations and businesses of all sizes.

Atlanta disaster outreach continues. A SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC), serving Fulton and DeKalb County residents and businesses, is located at City Hall East, 675 Ponce de Leon Avenue N.E. (fifth floor), Atlanta, GA 30308. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., until further notice. FEMA recovery specialists are also at the center to provide one-on-one assistance to individuals with disaster-related needs.