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Area still feeling effects of Hurricane Helene
A FEMA Housing Resource Fair set for March 28-29 in Statesboro
FEMA Resource Fair - Helene
Brian Smith, owner of Dixieland Tree & Landscape, top, and his crew work to remove a tree from the roof a a home on Azalea Drive on Sept. 28, 2024, in the wake of Hurricane Helene. FEMA is holding a Housing Resource Fair on Friday and Saturday at the Honey Bowen Building in Statesboro to help people affected by Helene with housing and other issues. (SCOTT BRYANT/Herald file)


The Federal Emergency Management Agency is holding a Housing Resource Fair on Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. for residents of Bulloch and surrounding counties at the Honey Bowen Building in Statesboro.

The Housing Resource Fair will bring together federal, state and local agencies in one place to offer services and resources to families still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Helene. Along with residents of Bulloch, residents of Screven, Evans, Candler, Jenkins and Emanuel counties are invited to attend the Resource Fair

Helene’s destructive winds swept through Bulloch County and southeast Georgia the night of Sept. 26 into the early morning hours of Sept. 27. Helene left structural damage to a significant number of homes and businesses in the area from downed trees and high winds.

Previously, FEMA set up a Disaster Recovery Center at the Kiwanis Fairgrounds for a week last November and for three weeks in December into January.

According a release from FEMA, the goal of Friday and Saturday’s Resource Fair is to help connect eligible residents affected by Helene, and Tropical Storm Debby that struck in August, with affordable housing, along with information and resources to assist their road to recovery.

The Housing Resource Fair is an opportunity for residents to:

▪ Explore affordable housing options and rental assistance programs.

▪ Meet with representatives from local housing organizations, landlords and property managers.

▪ Gain access to resources for displaced individuals and families.

▪ Learn about community partners that will provide educational funding resources to attendees.

 “We want survivors to know we are here for them and want to see the best outcome, which is moving into safe, sanitary and functioning housing,” FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Kevin Wallace said. “We will walk them through their options to ensure they are aware of the resources that are available to fit their need.”

James Wood, a media relations specialist with FEMA, said that as of March 12, FEMA had approved 216,000 households for assistance and provided more than $328 million in approved individual assistance. 

Anyone who was affected by Tropical Storm Debby or Hurricane Helene, whether they have applied for FEMA assistance or not, is welcome to attend.