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The State of Georgia received a Federal Disaster Declaration amendment today for eight additional counties that Governor Sonny Perdue requested aid for following severe thunderstorms and flooding that hit Georgia on March 26, 2009, and continued through April 13.

"After witnessing first-hand the widespread damage this spring that occurred in Georgia as a result of severe weather, and we are pleased that federal recovery assistance is now available to even more Georgians, enabling them to rebuild their lives faster,” said Governor Perdue.

This means that federal assistance is now available to eight more counties, bringing the total number of counties designated under this disaster declaration to 46. The list now includes Ben Hill, Brantley, Camden, Lee, McIntosh, Montgomery, Seminole and Tattnall counties.

“We are pleased that residents in these eight South Georgia counties now have additional resources to help them better recover from this spring’s devastating storm systems,” said Georgia Emergency Management Agency Director Charley English.

Eligible applicants in Ben Hill, Camden, Montgomery and Tattnall counties are eligible to receive Individual Assistance. 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 toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (local time) 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.

Governmental applicants in Brantley, Lee, McIntosh and Seminole counties are eligible to receive public assistance. This means that federal funding is available to local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities.

The federal declaration also means that affected counties can apply to be part of a 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.

To view a map of the counties included in the current disaster declaration, click here Map of Counties in Disaster 1833.

GEMA is the lead state agency for coordination of emergency and disaster response activities. For more information on GEMA, visit www.gema.ga.gov.  To learn how to prepare for disaster, visit www.ready.ga.gov.