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Governor Perdue Announces $27.9 Million in State and Federal Assistance for Tornado Damage

Wednesday, September 5, 2007  Contact: Office of Communications 404-651-7774

 

 

ATLANTA – Today Governor Sonny Perdue announced that Georgia will receive a collective $27.9 million in state and federal funds to help eligible individuals, communities and counties recover from the damages caused by tornados that hit Sumter and surrounding counties in March 2007.  

“The devastating power of nature can be not only emotionally and physically draining, but financially overwhelming for Georgia communities as well.  These funds will help those affected by these storms to continue necessary recovery and repairs,” said Governor Perdue. “We want to make sure that we are doing all we can to take care of Georgians and the communities impacted by this storm.”

On March 1, 2007, a devastating tornado hit Sumter County, resulting in a Presidential Disaster Declaration for Sumter and 14 other Georgia counties.  This tornado destroyed Sumter Regional Hospital. The hospital, with the support of local and state officials, quickly re-established urgent care facilities for the community and is now constructing an interim hospital facility.

Governor Perdue and several state agencies have advocated on behalf of Sumter Regional Hospital (SHR) on numerous recovery issues. Support began immediately after the tornado hit, and a temporary hospital was open within 100 hours after the storm’s passage.  The state of Georgia continues to work with SRH, local and federal partners to complete the hospital's recovery. Currently, the state is working to open an interim facility in November and plans to construct a new hospital on the site of the old hospital, with completion set for 2010.

The $27.9 million includes nearly $17 million in state and federal Public Assistance obligated for debris removal, disaster-related emergency services and repair or reconstruction of damaged infrastructure in Baker, Clay, Crawford, Hancock, McDuffie, Mitchell, Muscogee, Stewart, Sumter, Taylor, Warren, Webster and Wilkinson counties.

Federal aid approved includes more than $1.3 million in FEMA assistance for individuals and households in Baker, Crawford, Dougherty, McDuffie, Mitchell, Sumter, Taylor, Warren and Worth counties and more than $9.5 million in low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for homeowners, renters and businesses.

Federal aid approved includes more than $1.3 million in FEMA assistance for individuals and households in Baker, Crawford, Dougherty, McDuffie, Mitchell, Sumter, Taylor, Warren and Worth counties and more than $9.5 million in low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for homeowners, renters and businesses.

Below are key recovery numbers as of August 29, 2007:

 

  • $1,323,054 in disaster assistance has been approved through the Individuals and Households Program;
  • $875,520 has been approved for Housing Assistance. This includes temporary disaster housing and help in restoring uninsured homes that were made unsafe, unsanitary or non-functional;
  • $447,534 in disaster assistance has been approved for Other Needs Assistance (ONA). ONA awards are for disaster-related necessary expenses and serious needs such as medical or dental expenses; funeral expenses; moving and storage; transportation costs; and the repair or replacement of household appliances, clothing and necessary educational materials;
  • $9,599,900 in loans has been approved by the SBA for homeowners, renters and businesses;
  • $5,588,300 in loans for homeowners and renters;
  • $4,011,600 in business loans;
  • $93,235 in Disaster Unemployment Insurance has been disbursed;
  • $16,952,662.23 in Public Assistance funds has been obligated;
  • $  2,463,344.34 state obligated;
  • $14,489,317.89 FEMA obligated.

 

A county-by-county summary of Individual and Household Program assistance follows:

 

 

Baker

$120,988.24

$54,715.43

$175,703.67

Crawford

$29,255.99

$4,391.52

$33,647.51

Dougherty

$58,042.16

$1,711.86

$59,754.02

McDuffie

$67,617.17

$47,142.07

$114,759.24

Mitchell

$66,045.05

$3,104.73

$69,149.78

Sumter

$313,717.04

$303,929.71

$617,646.75

Taylor

$34,449.02

$11,756.77

$46,205.79

Warren

$80,365.47

$350.00

$80,715.47

Worth

$105,039.80

$20,432.09

$125,471.89

       TOTAL

$875,519.94

$447,534.18

$1,323,054.12

 

The Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) coordinates the state government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.