Vice President Kamala Harris announced Wednesday that President Joe Biden has approved Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s request for 100% reimbursement of local costs of responding to the aftermath of Hurricane Helene during remarks in Augusta, Georgia.
Harris said the federal reimbursement will cover costs for services like food, water and shelter provided by local governments, debris removal and emergency services.
According to Harris, at least seven people have died in Richmond County, where Augusta is located, and 33 people have died in the entire state from effects of Hurricane Helene.
Augusta, which is around two hours away from Atlanta, was one of the cities hit hardest by the onset of Hurricane Helene last week.
She also announced that FEMA is providing $750 for people who have immediate needs.
Harris thanked first responders, who she called “the heroes in moments of crisis.”
“Most of them, as it relates to the local folks, are folks who have personally and their families have personally experienced loss and devastation, and yet they leave their home and leave their family to go to centers like where I was earlier to do the work of helping perfect strangers,” she said. “And it really does highlight the nobility of the kind of work that these public servants have dedicated themselves to, which can be in moments of crisis like this so selfless.”
She also thanked Kemp for his leadership and coordination through the storm.
Richmond County is one of the 41 counties in Georgia for which FEMA has approved a disaster declaration. Kemp announced Wednesday that residents of these counties can apply for disaster assistance. FEMA has received more than 60,000 assistance applications, according to FEMA.
More than 55,000 households, over half of all electric customers, were without power in Richmond County as of Wednesday at 3:52 p.m., according to poweroutage.us.
The Augusta Utilities Department (AUD) on Monday issued a boil water advisory “due to systemwide low pressures which were caused by impacts of Hurricane Helene,” adding that the potential exists for “microbial contamination in these areas without positive pressure.”
AUD instructed residents to boil water and cool it before use. Residents should use boiled tap water or bottled water for drinking, brushing teeth, washing and preparing food, making ice, and preparing formula for babies and drinking water for pets.
Starting Wednesday, Augusta residents who cannot boil water can find potable water at:
- Diamond Lakes at 4335 Windsor Spring Rd.
- Blythe City Hall at 294 Church St.
- Warren Baptist at 3203 Washington Rd.
- Aquatic Center at 3157 Damascus Rd.
- Southgate Plaza at 1631 Gordon Hwy.
- The Depot at 716 Broad St.
Bottled water is available at The Depot, Southgate Plaza and Diamond Lakes.
Former President Donald Trump made a Monday visit to Valdosta, another Georgia city hit hardest by the storm. There, he incorrectly claimed that the president had not been in contact with Kemp.
Biden is set to visit Georgia on Thursday.
