FEMA has approved $75.4 million for 56 recovery projects across Georgia, covering the cost of Hurricane Helene clean-up, pandemic management and measures intended to reduce the impact of future disasters.
The funding will be channelled through the agency’s Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant programmes, reimbursing state and local authorities for eligible emergency and recovery work.
Projects include the removal of storm debris, emergency protective measures, health system costs and long-term resilience planning. The largest award is $23.9 million for Emory Healthcare to cover pandemic management expenses.
Georgia recovery projects funded by FEMA
Columbia County is due to receive $10.6 million for debris clearance, while the Georgia Emergency Management Agency has been allocated $4.3 million for emergency protective measures.
The Georgia Department of Transportation will receive $4 million for debris removal operations. Jeff Davis County has been awarded $3.8 million for similar work, with Augusta-Richmond County receiving $2.8 million.
Further grants include $292,000 towards Georgia’s state hazard mitigation plan and $240,000 for resilience planning in Chatham County.
FEMA’s Public Assistance programme provides financial support for state and local government response and recovery work. The agency says its share of eligible Public Assistance costs is generally at least 75 per cent.
Georgia’s Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency administers the state’s recovery process, working with communities on reconstruction and projects designed to limit future losses.
Officials have not said when each local authority will receive the money. It also remains unclear whether further grants will be awarded from the remaining federal funding pool.
