Georgia Counties Receive Aid Request Approval

President George W. Bush has approved a Federal Disaster Declaration for six additional Georgia counties that Gov. Perdue requested aid for following the tornadoes and severe thunderstorms that hit Georgia a weekend ago. The Federal Disaster Declaration follows one issued for Fulton County on Thursday. This means that individual assistance is now available to disaster victims in six other counties in addition to the original declaration for Fulton County. This list now includes Bartow, Burke, DeKalb, Floyd, Jefferson, and Polk counties. The President has also designated that Burke, Fulton and Jefferson counties will all be able to receive federal funds to help offset 75 percent the cost of the initial emergency response, debris removal and restoration of damaged public facilities. Other areas of the state damaged by the storms are still under review. For the counties receiving individual assistance, aid can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses. Low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration also will be available to cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance. Residents and business owners in Fulton County who sustained losses can begin applying for assistance by registering online at http://www.fema.gov/ or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (local time) Monday through Sunday.