ATLANTA — President Joe Biden has declared a major disaster for areas of Georgia hit by March’s breakout of tornadoes that devastated the city of Newnan and several other counties.
“Federal funding is available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms and tornadoes in the counties of Coweta, Fannin, Gilmer, Heard, Lumpkin, Pickens, Rabun, and White,” the White House announced in a statement on Wednesday.
At its widest, the tornado was more than a mile wide as it moved through downtown Newnan. Its maximum wind speed was 170 mph, which was an EF-4 tornado.
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The tornado was on the ground for at least 38.9 miles.
Officials said at least one person who had a medical emergency died during the storms as emergency crews were trying to get to him. Other people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
Parts of Heard, Bartow and Polk counties saw significant damage as well from the storms.
The funding will help supplement state and local recovery efforts from the storms.
Sen. Jon Ossoff praised the move, saying:
“After surveying the tornado damage in Newnan and Coweta County, it was clear to Senator Rev. Warnock and me that a Major Disaster Declaration was necessary. We conveyed that need to the White House and FEMA, and I am grateful to President Biden for sending this help to Georgia.”
Sen. Raphael Warnock also issued a statement, saying:
“Families in Newnan and across the eight counties that were impacted by those awful storms in March have waited weeks for substantive help from their federal government, and I’m glad I was able to work with Senator Ossoff and Congressman Ferguson to push the Administration to finally make this happen. Help is finally on the way, and I’m going to keep working to make sure the federal government stays at the table and does its part to help Georgians recover from this disaster.”
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