Vehicles move slowly around trees that have fallen after Hurricane Helene moved through the area, Sept. 27, 2024, in Valdosta, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)
A few months after Hurricanes Helene and Debby, Georgians are still recovering from the impacts of the storms. Even months out, there is still aid available — but applications must be completed by Jan. 7, 2025.
“The one thing that’s special about this situation in Georgia is that some people may have been impacted by both storms,” said Barb Sturner, an external affairs specialist with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Sturner said FEMA has already given out more than $236 million in aid and handled over 180,000 applicants. Nobody is required to sign up with FEMA, she said, but for Georgians affected by Hurricanes Helene or Debby they may be eligible for aid to help in their recovery.
Sturner has been with FEMA for 30 years, and she says it’s easy to procrastinate filing this paperwork — especially during the holiday season.
“The sooner people apply, the sooner we may be able to look at how to help them,” Sturner said.
For Georgia residents impacted by both storms, Sturner said they need to apply twice — once for Debby and once for Helene.
What can FEMA fund?
Sturner says there are different categories of assistance, including:
Displacement assistance — money to help with immediate housing needs to pay for a place to stay, whether that’s a hotel or staying with friends or family or another short-term solution
Minimal house damage — funds to make a house liveable again, such as replacing windows or a door or minor roof repairs
Replacing essential personal property — medicines, vehicles, appliances, clothing, storage, increase costs of child care
Sturner says there are also some new grant opportunities, such as:
Accessibility: Either putting in new or replacing accessibility features such as a ramp or grab bars
Aid for self-employed business owners: Replacing tools and equipment needed to get businesses restarted after a disaster
She says this isn’t an exhaustive list, but examples of what FEMA can cover for Helene and Debby. Grants are given for specific purposes, not for general spending.
“FEMA money is all grants. It does not have to be repaid back. It’s not a loan,” Sturner said.
Sturner said cases are considered on a person-by-person basis, so even neighbors can end up receiving different aid.
“One size does not fit all, so not everybody is going to get exactly the same benefits because the variables of their circumstances are different,” Sturner said.
She says sometimes applicants receive rejection letters, but Sturner says those folks should read the letter and consider appealing. Often, she says it’s a mistake in the paperwork and not an outright denial, like if more than one person at an address already applied, you forgot to write in your social security number or the home address isn’t showing up in FEMA’s system.
Recommendations for renters. (Graphic courtesy of FEMA)
FEMA and other help
Sturner said FEMA isn’t the only organization granting money during disaster recovery.
Applying for one funding source, such as insurance or a nonprofit like the Red Cross, does not transfer to FEMA or other organizations and agencies providing assistance. Sturner said people affected by the hurricanes can apply to multiple organizations in addition to FEMA for aid — and they shouldn’t be afraid to maximize the help they can receive.
That being said, Sturner said FEMA cannot duplicate aid. If someone has already received money to fix their roof from insurance, for example, Sturner said FEMA won’t also pay to fix that same roof. However, Sturner said that FEMA could still pay to cover other repairs or aid besides that, so she said she encourages people who have already applied elsewhere to also see what FEMA might be able to help with.
How to apply for FEMA aid. (Graphic courtesy of FEMA)
