Governor Perdue Releases $3 Million For Local Storm Response

Requests more dollars to meet additional needs

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that he is releasing $3 million from the state's emergency discretionary fund to cover past and future expenses incurred by local governments in responding to last week's severe weather.  Preliminary estimates indicate that as much as $11 million will be needed to match federal disaster assistance funds. Without state assistance, local governments would have had to bear the cost of the local match. Governor Perdue will request that the legislature appropriate additional funds to make up the difference between the emergency fund and the amount needed for the total local match.

"I am very pleased with the way Georgians responded to last week's emergency needs," said Governor Perdue.  "These communities are beginning the rebuilding process, and we are giving them a helping hand by providing the funds needed to match the federal assistance."

After the storm hit Georgia, Governor Perdue surveyed the damage and issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in Baker, Clay, Crawford, McDuffie, Mitchell, Muscogee, Steward, Sumter and Taylor counties.  The executive order allowed state resources to be available for response and recovery activities, and allowed the Georgia Emergency Management Agency to activate the state's Emergency Operations Plan.

Agencies responding to the incident include GEMA, Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Department of Transportation, Georgia Forestry Commission, Georgia Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner's Office, Georgia Department of Human Resources Division of Public Health, Department of Natural Resources, Georgia Department of Defense (National Guard), Public Service Commission, Georgia Mutual Aid Group, and the Central Georgia Search and Rescue Team. Representatives from the Georgia Baptist Disaster Services, the American Red Cross (ARC), the Salvation Army, Mennonite Disaster Service and Seventh Day Adventists also are on hand to assist local communities. Many adjacent counties are providing essential mutual aid assistance.

Following the state's disaster declaration, Governor Perdue asked President George Bush for an expedited Federal Disaster Declaration.  President Bush toured the region with the Governor and issued the declaration bringing federal aid to the state.

"Georgia was hit hard by this storm," said Governor Perdue.  "Local, state and federal governments, and the people of Georgia, have responded overwhelmingly to the needs in the affected areas.  Together, we will make sure these counties recover, and we will continue to pray for the victims of the storm."