FEMA May Help with Recovery Expenses Already Paid

Atlanta – Even if you already started repairing or replacing items damaged or destroyed during Tropical Storm Debby or Hurricane Helene, FEMA may be able to reimburse you for these expenses. Be sure to save your receipts. 

Survivors in Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Butts, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Dodge, Echols, Effingham, Elbert, Emanuel, Evans, Fulton, Glascock, Glynn, Hancock, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Lincoln, Long, Lowndes, McDuffie, McIntosh, Montgomery, Newton, Pierce, Rabun, Richmond, Screven, Stephens, Taliaferro, Tattnall, Telfair, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Ware, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wheeler and Wilkes counties who had homes or personal property damaged or destroyed may be eligible for FEMA assistance.

FEMA will only approve home repairs that are necessary to restore the home to a habitable 

condition. The types of repairs that may be eligible for assistance will vary depending upon the nature of the disaster.

FEMA assistance to repair and replace personal property falls within the following categories: 

• Appliances: Includes standard household appliances, such as a refrigerator, washing machine, etc.
• Clothing: Essential clothing needed due to overall loss, damage, or contamination.
• Room furnishings: Standard furnishings found in a bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and living room.
• Essential Tools: Tools and equipment required by an employer as a condition of employment and items required as a condition of an applicant’s or household member’s education.
• Accessible Items: FEMA also provides assistance for damaged personal property items required for qualified applicants with disabilities.
• Applicants must meet the following conditions to receive Personal Property Assistance:
  • The item needs to be repaired or replaced due to disaster damage.
  • The occupants of the household have an unmet disaster-related need for the damaged item. FEMA may not provide assistance if the applicant can meet that need with another similar item in their possession or available to the household.
  • The item was owned and being used by occupants of the household.
    • FEMA does not provide assistance for furnishings and/or appliances provided by a landlord.
    • Items used by guests and relatives who were not members of the pre-disaster household are not eligible for assistance.

There are four ways to apply for FEMA disaster assistance: call toll-free 800-621-3362, go online to DisasterAssistance.gov, download the FEMA App or visit a Disaster Recovery Center. Help on the phone line is available in most languages. If you use a relay service such as VRS, captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service. The deadline for applications is Jan. 7, 2025.

To view an accessible video about how to apply visit: Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance – YouTube.

For the latest information about Georgia’s recovery, visit fema.gov/helene/Georgia and fema.gov/disaster/4821. Follow FEMA on X at x.com/femaregion4 or follow FEMA on social media at: FEMA Blog on fema.gov, @FEMA or @FEMAEspanol on X, FEMA or FEMA Espanol on Facebook, @FEMA on Instagram, and via FEMA YouTube channel. Also, follow Administrator Deanne Criswell on X @FEMA_Deanne.