Tropical Storm Helene: Kemp issues State of Emergency, Biden approves major disaster declaration

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.

LIVE Severe Weather Team 2 coverage goes over the latest models and prepares you for the storm, on Channel 2 Action News at 4:00 p.m.

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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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