FEMA Aid For Rabun County

Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Obama’s major disaster declaration issued for Georgia.

Assistance for Affected Individuals and Families Can Include as Required:

·        Rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable.  Initial assistance may be provided for up to three months for homeowners and at least one month for renters.  Assistance may be extended if requested after the initial period based on a review of individual applicant requirements.  (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)

·        Grants for home repairs and replacement of essential household items not covered by insurance to make damaged dwellings safe, sanitary and functional.  (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)

·        Grants to replace personal property and help meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state and charitable aid programs.   (Source: FEMA funded at 75 percent of total eligible costs; 25 percent funded by the state.)

·        Unemployment payments up to 26 weeks for workers who temporarily lost jobs because of the disaster and who do not qualify for state benefits, such as self-employed individuals.  (Source: FEMA funded; state administered.)

·        Low-interest loans to cover residential losses not fully compensated by insurance.  Loans available up to $200,000 for primary residence; $40,000 for personal property, including renter losses.  Loans available up to $2 million for business property losses not fully compensated by insurance.  (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)

·        Loans up to $2 million for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes that have suffered disaster-related cash flow problems and need funds for working capital to recover from the disaster's adverse economic impact.  This loan in combination with a property loss loan cannot exceed a total of $2 million. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)

·        Loans up to $500,000 for farmers, ranchers and aquaculture operators to cover production and property losses, excluding primary residence.  (Source: Farm Service Agency, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.)

·        Other relief programs: Crisis counseling for those traumatized by the disaster; income tax assistance for filing casualty losses; advisory assistance for legal, veterans’ benefits and social security matters.

Assistance for the State and Affected Local Governments Can Include as Required:

·        Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, bridges, utilities, buildings, schools, recreational areas and similar publicly owned property, as well as certain private non-profit organizations engaged in community service activities. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)

·        Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for removing debris from public areas and for emergency measures taken to save lives and protect property and public health, including direct federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program.(Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)

·        Payment of not more than 75 percent of the approved costs for hazard mitigation projects undertaken by state and local governments to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural or technological disasters.  (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)

How to Apply for Assistance:

·        Those in the county designated for assistance to affected individuals and business owners can begin the disaster application process by registering online atwww.DisasterAssistance.gov, by web enabled mobile device at m.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 are available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. EDT.  Applicants registering for aid should be prepared to provide basic information about themselves (name, permanent address, phone number), insurance coverage and any other information to help substantiate losses.

·        Application procedures for local governments will be explained at a series of federal/state applicant briefings with locations to be announced in the affected area by recovery officials. Approved public repair projects are paid through the state from funding provided by FEMA and other participating federal agencies.

Lake Rabun Home of Kay Douglass Featured in Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles

http://www.atlantahomesmag.com/article/simple-sophistication

Lake Burton Waterways Reopen

Marty Dixon, Deputy Director of the Rabun County Emergency Management Agency says Lake Burton waterways re-opened Monday morning at 7:00 for unrestricted use. 

Dixon also added that the Department of Natural Resources Officers will remain on the lake until Sunday, May 8.

DNR Commissioner Mark Williams says there are portions of Lake Burton that will remain closed to boater traffic until midnight, May 6, due to hazardous conditions there.

Georgia Department of Natural Resources designated the lake a “Temporary Hazard Area” on Friday after last week’s storms downed trees and power lines and killed an Atlanta businessman.

All boaters are encouraged to use extreme caution while on the water due to debris in the water.

As well, Dixon says all roads in the storm-affected area of Lake Burton are now open with limited access to homeowners and contractors.

Lake Burton Search and Rescue Complete

SEARCH & RESCUE EFFORTS COMPLETE, CLEAN-UP EFFORTS CONTINUE

05/02/2011

Search and rescue efforts are complete and emergency officials say approximately 145 homes received damage from last week’s tornado.

Representatives from the Georgia Emergency Management Agency as well as from the Federal Emergency Management Agency toured the hardest hit areas of the county over the weekend.

Rabun County and 16 others in Georgia received classification as Federal Disaster Areas and can now obtain federal money to help offset the cost of debris removal and emergency protective services.

As residents begin the clean-up process, contractors performing the work are required to obtain permits from the county.

Those can be applied for at the Rabun County Planning and Zoning Office prior to beginning work.

That office will be open this week, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

There phone number is (706) 982-2657

Cleanup and Search & Rescue Continues on Lake Burton

We spent some time on Meetinghouse Mountain today and were impressed with the cleanup that was underway.  Unfortunately, we also encountered search and rescue crews indicating that there may be some people unaccounted for.

Disaster Relief for Lake Burton

President OKs disaster declaration

Deal, delegation requested aid for 16 counties hit hardest by storm

Gov. Nathan Deal announced today that President Obama approved a federal disaster

declaration for 16 counties devastated by severe storms, tornadoes, straight‐line winds and

associated flooding on April 27‐28. The storms killed 15 people and hundreds of homes and

businesses were damaged.

"We appreciate the prompt response by President Obama and FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate

as we begin the arduous process of recovery," said Deal. "Georgia’s entire congressional

delegation jumped into gear on the federal level to seek aid for their constituents, and their

diligence has paid off. This assistance will be of great help to the survivors who are reclaiming

their lives."

The counties eligible to receive individual assistance include: Bartow, Catoosa, Dade, Floyd, Polk,

Spalding and Walker. Residents and business owners in these counties who sustained losses can

begin applying for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling

1‐800‐621‐FEMA (3362) or 1‐800‐462‐7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The tollfree

telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Sunday. Individual

assistance 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.

The president also has designated that local governments and certain private nonprofit

organizations in Bartow, Catoosa, Coweta, Dade, Floyd, Greene, Lamar, Meriwether, Monroe,

Morgan, Pickens, Polk, Rabun, Spalding, Troup, and Walker counties are eligible to receive

federal funds to help offset 75 percent of the cost of debris removal and emergency protective

measures.

This disaster declaration also makes all counties in Georgia eligible to apply for assistance under

the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which provides assistance to state and local governments

and certain private nonprofit organizations for actions taken to prevent or reduce long‐term risk

to life and property from natural hazards.

NORTHERN PART OF LAKE BURTON CLOSED

GEMA has established a Safety Hazard Zone for the Northern part of Lake Burton that was affected by the storm.  This zone has been organized by DNR with the approval of the DNR Commissioner.  This zone is for boating safety, search & rescue and evaluation efforts.  This plan will be reviewed each morning until all search and rescue has been completed and affected roads have been cleared.  Lake residents that are in the affected areas  are being asked to stay away until the above operations are completed.   Contractors will also not be allowed in the affected areas at this time.  All lake residents in the Northern part of Lake Burton are asked to stay off the reservoir until  these safety conditions are lifted.

SAFETY HAZARD ZONE

All areas north of the McClain Cemetery/Mr. Safety (34.49.40.27N/83.33.41.22W  and 34.49.40.20/N83.33.1.99W)  will be closed to  boating and other recreational water activities.  South of the McClain Cemetery to the dam will remain open for recreational boating use.

Murray Cove ramp is currently the only ramp open for recreational use.