Hurricane assistance available for Georgia residents
By Makenzy Veldboom | Editor in Chief
For those seeking post-hurricane assistance, U.S. Sen. Rev. Raphael Warnock has shared several resources to help community members deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
“During a recent visit to Augusta, which was hit hard by the hurricane, I surveyed storm damage, delivered supplies and met with local leaders and community members to hear what they needed from Washington in this challenging moment,” Sen. Warnock said in an email Thursday, adding that he, along with other members of the Georgia delegation, had successfully urged President Biden to approve a federal Emergency Declaration for all 159 counties in Georgia. This act gives the state access to federal emergency resources and assistance to supplement state and local preparation and response efforts. “I’m also pushing to deliver additional aid and relief to aid Georgians in need, through a federal Major Disaster declaration,” he said.
“As your U.S. Senator, the safety of Georgians is my top priority,” he went on to say. “My office will continue to work to ensure that all Federal resources are leveraged to assist communities across Georgia as they become available. My staff are available to answer questions and help you find local resources for further assistance. Anyone seeking assistance from my office can call 770-694-7828.
“Even in our darkest hour, what I saw in Augusta — and what I know about people in every corner of our state — is that Georgians are resilient, love their community, and come together during tough times. And know that I will keep walking with you as I continue to work for you.”
See below for a list of various resources:
For additional assistance, such as food, water, or shelter-related questions:
The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA) has compiled a list of resources related to food, shelter, and donations here: https://gema.georgia.gov/hurricane-helene .
You can contact your local Emergency Management Agency, which can be found here: https://gema.georgia.gov/locations . If you cannot reach your local agency, you can contact the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA) at 404-635-7200 or 1-800-TRYGEMA (1-800-879-4362).
Georgians receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program (SNAP) benefits can report food lost by submitting Form 841 to the Georgia Division of Family & Children Services, either at a county office (https://dfcs.georgia.gov/locations ) or electronically: https://dfcs.georgia.gov/form/food-loss-replacement-form . More information is available here: https://dfcs.georgia.gov/snap-food-stamps/benefits-replacement-request .
You can also contact your local American Red Cross Regional Office. The contact information for their Georgia offices is available at https://www.redcross.org/local/georgia.html or 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) 24 hours a day.
You can also find more information about locating a loved one through the American Red Cross here: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/disaster-relief-and-recovery-services/contact-and-locate-loved-ones.html .
The Federal government offers several resources for those with health care-related needs:
People on dialysis/with end stage renal disease (ERSD) can reach out to the ESRD Network 6 (Georgia) toll-free hotline at 1-800- 524-7139. You can find more information on the Kidney Community Emergency Response website here: https://kcercoalition.com/ .
People affected by the storm may be able to apply for health insurance in a special enrollment period: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/news-alert/cms-announces-resources-and-flexibilities-assist-public-health-emergency-states-florida-and-georgia .
The Federal government also operates a 24/7 Disaster Distress Helpline for toll-free, multilingual, crisis support service for those experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. You can call or text 1-800-985-5990 or learn more here: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline .
Farmers and growers can also access resources provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA):
You can find your nearest service center here: https://www.farmers.gov/working-with-us/service-center-locator , as well as resources for hurricane recovery here: https://www.farmers.gov/protection-recovery/hurricane , or you can call the Farm Service Agency Georgia State Office at 706-546-2266.
It is important that agricultural producers keep detailed records of damages and report them to their local USDA Service Center as soon as possible.
Contact Makenzy Veldboom at kveldboom@augusta.edu
Photo: Courtesy of Warnock.
