Jon Burns, Speaker of the House | Official U.S. House headshot
Jon Burns, Speaker of the House | Official U.S. House headshot
On September 30, 2024, President Joseph R. Biden Jr. approved a Major Disaster Declaration for Georgia to release federal funds aiding recovery from Hurricane Helene, which began on September 24 and continues to affect the region.
By October 3, the declaration expanded to include Effingham, Elbert, Tift, and Rabun counties. This brings the total number of counties eligible for federal assistance to forty-five. State officials anticipate this number will grow as they assess ongoing damage reports.
House Speaker Jon Burns commented on the inclusion of Effingham County in the disaster declaration: “The extension of the Major Disaster Declaration to include Effingham County marks a critical milestone in our community’s road to recovery,” he said. He expressed gratitude towards President Biden's Administration for acknowledging the extensive damage in Southeast Georgia counties. Burns added that collaboration with federal partners and state leaders would continue until all affected communities receive necessary resources for recovery.
The counties now approved for FEMA funds are Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Bulloch, Burke, Candler, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Echols, Effingham, Elbert, Emanuel, Evans, Glascock, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier Laurens Liberty Lincoln Lowndes McDuffie Montgomery Pierce Rabun Richmond Screven Tattnall Telfair Tift Toombs Treutlen Ware Washington Wheeler.
Residents in these areas can apply for aid online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585).
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