Atlanta flood update: Latest FEMA figures, 2-week progress report

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Atlanta flood update: Latest FEMA figures, 2-week progress report
October 5, 2009
Jackie Kass
Examiner.com

It’s been two weeks to the day when the Atlanta flood caused rivers, creeks and streams to overrun their beds, and severely flood sections of the city, closing down hundreds of roads and causing most major school systems to close. Fourteen days later, how has the city progressed, and is life getting back to normal?

For most residents of Atlanta, the answer is yes. However, for those who lost their homes or businesses to the rising floodwaters, the answer is no. The process of rebuilding is slow, and often torturous. While the basic necessities of life are being met by the Red Cross, Salvation Army and church groups, many flood victims still struggle with the aftermath of the Atlanta flood that experts now refer to as an epic 500-year catastrophy.

Just one week after federal major disaster declarations were issued for 17 north and central Georgia counties where individuals had flood damage, more than $24 million in disaster assistance has been approved to help with the recovery from the storms and flooding that started September 18, announced officials with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). "We're pleased with the pace of recovery operations, but we aren't letting up," said GEMA Director Charley English. "We'll continue working hand-in-hand with FEMA and local partners to give those affected by the flooding a helping hand." The 17 counties under the disaster declaration for Individual Assistance are Bartow, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, Gwinnett, Heard, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, Stephens and Walker.
"While more than 5,000 Georgians have already received disaster assistance," said Federal Coordinating Officer Gracia Szczech, "FEMA is still working hard with our state and local partners to reach out to all eligible flood survivors and help them resume their lives as quickly as possible." Twenty-one counties are eligible for FEMA Public Assistance which reimburses state agencies and local governments for eligible disaster-related emergency measures and repair and replacement of damaged roads, bridges, public buildings and other infrastructure. The reimbursement is on a cost-share basis - 75 federal, 25 percent state-local.
Individuals can register with FEMA online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585. The toll-free numbers are staffed seven days a week, 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. until further notice. Help in all languages is available.

Recovery assistance by the numbers:

* $24.11 million has been approved to help disaster-affected Georgians with temporary housing, home repairs and other needs through FEMA and state disaster grants programs.
* 15,080 people in the 17 designated counties have registered with FEMA for Individual Assistance.
* 2,704 people visited one of 14 state and federal Disaster Recovery Centers to talk face to face with recovery specialists.
* 55 FEMA Community Relations field specialists are visiting neighborhoods, talking with Georgians at their homes and at community meetings in affected counties. Teams have visited more than 1,000 homes and talked with more than 300 businesses, churches, schools and community organizations.
* 10,550 pamphlets, booklets and other publications that provide information on how to reduce the risk of future flood losses have been distributed by FEMA Mitigation outreach specialists.

More recent flood news:

* At the height of the flood, Wildlife Director of the Chattahoochee Nature Center Kathryn Dudek parked a mile away and waded through knee-deep water to feed the 200+ animals in her care. None of the animals perished, and all are safe and sound. However, the center received damage to its scenic boardwalk, and a major section of it remains closed.
* Only one Red Cross shelter remains open. Volunteers with HopeATL reached out to flood victims with a special church service Sunday outside the Cobb Civic Center.
* Cobb County police report looters in areas that were hard hit by the flood. Arrests were made after looters tried to steal refrigerators, dishwashers and other valuables from vacant homes.
* Most of the mobile homes in the Countryside Village community in Lawrenceville were so badly damaged in the flood that they need to be bulldozed to the ground. The neighborhood suffered from extreme flooding, followed by a natural gas explosion that was captured on film by a WSB-TV crew.
* The latest damage figure from the Atlanta flood is $280 million.
* Nestle Waters North America donated 5,000 one-gallon bottles of Deer Park Natural Spring Water to help flood victims deal with the aftermath.
* Flood victims were warned of potential scammers looking to make a quick buck.V ictims were urged to shop around for qualified contractors and to check references. Georgia’s price-gouging law continues to be in effect.
* Kohl’s donated $50,000 to the American Red Cross for Atlanta flood relief efforts, and to provide much-needed emergency assistance throughout Georgia. In addition to a financial contribution, Kohl's is encouraging its associates to volunteer in support of cleanup and recovery efforts through its A-Team program. When five or more Kohl's associates volunteer to help residents in the affected areas now through November 16, Kohl's will donate a $500 grant to the American Red Cross or other nonprofits providing flood-relief in hopes of further supporting the affected areas.
* St. John Newman School in Lilburn reopened today, two weeks after floodwaters filled and extensively damaged the school’s classrooms.

Disaster Recovery Centers:
Fourteen Disaster Recovery Centers are now open in north and central Georgia. Hours for all centers are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday until further notice.

* Carroll County. Old Greenway Medical Building, 590 Hays Mill Road, Carrollton, GA 30117
* Catoosa County. Learning Center, 36 Muskogee Trail, Ringgold, GA 30736
* Chattooga County. Trion School, 919 All Good St., Trion, GA 30753
* Cherokee County. Cherokee County Parks and Recreation Department Gym, 200 Building, 7545 Main St. Woodstock, GA 30188
* Cobb County. The Threadmill, Suite 151, 5000, Austell/Powder Springs Road, Austell, GA 30106
* DeKalb County. Browns Mill Recreation Center, 5101 Browns Mill Road, Lithonia, GA
* Douglas County. Lithia Springs First United Methodist Church, 3711 Temple St., Lithia Springs, GA 30122
* Douglas County. Heritage Baptist Church, 8800 Rose Ave., Douglasville, GA 30134
* Fulton County. Fulton County Government Center, 141 Pryor St. SW, Atlanta, GA
* Gwinnett County. Mountain Park Depot, 5050 Five Forks Trickum Road, Lilburn, GA 30047
* Paulding County. Paulding County Community Center, 54 Industrial Way, Dallas, GA 30132
* Rockdale County. Government Annex, 1400 Parker Road, Conyers, Georgia 30012
* Stephens County. Stephens County Senior Center, 199 Hayley Drive, Toccoa, GA 30577
* Walker County. Walker County Agricultural Center, 10054 North Highway 27, Rock Spring, GA 30739