Governor Perdue Requests Presidential Major Disaster Declaration

Adds 17 Additional Counties to State of Emergency

Governor Sonny Perdue today requested a Presidential disaster declaration which would lead to federal aid for severe weather and flood damages in 33 Georgia counties.

“The recent floods in south Georgia have adversely impacted the lives of many Georgians,” said Governor Perdue. “The requested disaster funding will help residents, businesses and local governments recover from this disaster and rebuild their lives.”

Governor Perdue also issued an Executive Order today declaring a state of emergency in 17 additional counties affected by heavy rain and severe weather that have passed through Georgia since March 27. The counties are: Appling, Bacon, Brantley, Clinch, Dodge, Dougherty, Echols, Grady, Irwin, Lanier, Montgomery, Pierce, Toombs, Upson, Ware, Wheeler and Wilcox.

Previously, 16 counties were included in the State of Emergency orders, including Atkinson, Baker, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Calhoun, Coffee, Colquitt, Decatur, Early, Lowndes, Miller, Mitchell, Tift, Turner and Worth. When joint state-federal damage assessments began on April 7, officials determined that more counties needed to be added emergency declaration. The additional counties reported disruptions to a large number of roads, bridges, drainage systems, waste treatment facilities and other crucial infrastructure.

Some examples of the impact of the severe weather and flooding on these counties include: 36 local road closures; 16 federal and state route closures; five damaged wastewater treatment facilities; five damaged neighborhood or community sanitary sewer lift stations; three damaged public drinking water systems; six damaged bridges; and 20 reported school system closures.
Governor Perdue's request follows joint surveys conducted over the past several days by local, state and federal damage assessment teams, which is a requirement of the disaster declaration process. Initial damage assessments conducted over a widespread area revealed that more than 600 homes were damaged.

Governor Perdue requested Public Assistance (PA) programs for 30 of the counties: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Baker, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Calhoun, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Dodge, Early, Echols, Grady, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Miller, Mitchell, Montgomery, Pierce, Tift, Toombs, Turner, Upson, Ware, Wheeler, Wilcox and Worth. PA programs provide funding for debris removal, emergency protective measures, roads and bridges, water control facilities, buildings and equipment, utilities, and parks and recreational facilities.

In addition, the Governor requested Individual Assistance (IA) programs for 18 of the counties: Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Coffee, Colquitt, Decatur, Dougherty, Echols, Lanier, Lowndes, Miller, Mitchell, Pierce, Tift, Ware, Wheeler and Worth. IA programs include funding for the Individuals and Households Program, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Crisis Counseling, Disaster Legal Services, and Small Business Administration disaster loans.

“Damage assessments completed to date confirm that damage from the flooding left hundreds of Georgians in need of assistance,” said Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) Director Charley English. “Our agency will continue working with local emergency officials to provide needed state resources and pursue available federal assistance.”

Joint state and federal damage assessment teams will continue to work to determine the full scope of the damage to businesses, residences and public facilities in all counties reporting damage to ensure that all who qualify for assistance will be included.

GEMA is the lead state agency for coordination of emergency and disaster response activities. For more emergency information, visit GEMA's Web site at www.gema.ga.gov. To learn how to prepare for disaster, visit www.ready.ga.gov . For more information on federal assistance programs please go to www.fema.gov.

The text of today’s Executive Order:

BY THE GOVERNOR:

WHEREAS: On March 27, severe weather began to affect the State of Georgia, causing torrential downpours and severe thunderstorms, resulting in flooding in the following counties: Atkinson, Baker, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Calhoun, Coffee, Colquitt, Decatur, Early, Lowndes, Miller, Mitchell, Tift, Turner, and Worth. Rivers continued to rise, overflowing their banks, and severe thunderstorms continued exacerbating downstream flooding in Appling, Bacon, Brantley, Clinch, Dodge, Dougherty, Echols, Grady, Irwin, Lanier, Montgomery, Pierce, Toombs, Upson, Ware, Wheeler, and Wilcox Counties; and

WHEREAS: It is necessary to amend the State of Emergency issued March 30 and amended April 03, to include the following counties: Appling, Bacon, Brantley, Clinch, Dodge, Dougherty, Echols, Grady, Irwin, Lanier, Montgomery, Pierce, Toombs, Upson, Ware, Wheeler, and Wilcox; and

WHEREAS: Said heavy rains and flooding has caused major destruction and damage to roads, bridges, culverts and other public and private properties in the above-mentioned counties, and several rivers are not predicted to crest for the next few days; and

WHEREAS: The assistance of the government of the State of Georgia is necessary to protect the public health, preserve the safety of the public, keep property damage to a minimum, and to restore the social and economic welfare of the citizens in the above-mentioned counties; and

WHEREAS: In light of these circumstances and in conjunction with the authority vested in the Governor by virtue of Article 3, Section 38-3-51, of the Georgia Emergency Management Act of 1981, as amended to promulgate reasonable orders, rules and regulations as are deemed necessary to protect public health, safety and welfare, and to bring the emergency situation under control within the acknowledged limitations of the powers of the Governor;

NOW, THEREFORE, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME AS GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA, IT IS HEREBY

ORDERED: That a State of Emergency exists in the above mentioned counties, and that personnel and equipment resources of the State of Georgia be made available to assist in the response and recovery activities currently being undertaken in the above mentioned counties, and that the Georgia Emergency Management Agency activate the Georgia Emergency Operations Plan.

ORDERED: This 10th day of April, 2009.
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