ATLANTA — Gov. Brian Kemp has issued a State of Emergency for all of Georgia ahead of Tropical Storm Helene. President Joe Biden also approved a “major disaster declaration” for FEMA to assist the state.
Tropical Storm Helene formed in the western Caribbean on Tuesday morning. Severe Weather Team 2 Chief Meteorologist Brad Nitz says Helene will make landfall in Florida on Thursday, then move across Georgia late Thursday night into Friday morning.
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Kemp’s state of emergency will last through Oct. 2. What does a state of emergency do? The order essentially frees up emergency funds for areas that could be impacted and mobilizes agencies to help with preparation, response and recovery before and after a storm.
The order also allows up to 500 Georgia National Guard troops to help with storm preparation and response.
Biden’s disaster declaration will make federal funding available for people in the following Georgia counties: Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham, Effingham, Evans, Liberty, Long and Screven counties.
“Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster,” FEMA said.
Federal funding is also available for local governments in the following counties:
Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Echols, Effingham, Evans, Jeff Davis, Jenkins, Lanier, Long, Lowndes, McIntosh, Pierce, Screven, Tattnall, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Ware and Wayne counties.
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During an afternoon news conference Tuesday, Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Director Chris Stallings said the agency is preparing for powerful, damaging winds from the storm.
“We have prepositioned response teams and equipment to quickly address emergencies as they arise,” Stallings said.
State resources, including the Georgia National Guard, stand ready to help with rescue, debris and other emergencies brought by the Helene, which GEMA says could have a destructive impact in counties statewide.
“We are looking at hurricane-force winds within a radius of 50 miles of I-75 south of Macon and tropical force winds statewide,” Stallings said. “We fully expect widespread power outages from a significant number of downed trees and powerlines throughout the state.”
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