After a team from the Federal Emergency Management Agency visited Bulloch County last Friday and Saturday to assess damage from Hurricane Matthew, FEMA surprised local officials by rapidly issuing both a public assistance disaster declaration and an individual assistance disaster declaration.
Local officials, such as Bulloch County Emergency Management Agency Director Ted Wynn, expected the county and its cities to qualify for the public assistance declaration. This provides federal reimbursement for at least 75 percent local governments’ costs for disaster preparation and cleanup. But city and county officials didn’t expect it so soon, and Wynn had doubted Bulloch would even qualify for the individual assistance declaration, which allows residents to apply for federal help for damage to buildings and other private costs resulting from the storm.
However, after officials from both FEMA and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency visited, Wynn received notice of the FEMA declarations Tuesday.
“It came quicker than we thought, and I’m just so appreciative of those that did the groundwork and kept the records and spent time with FEMA on Saturday, and we got the individual declaration, the public declaration as well as emergency protective measures,” Wynn said.
That last element covers costs of overtime for law enforcement, fire departments, the emergency medical service and other agencies before and during the storm, he said.
Last week, Wynn had said he knew of 50 damaged homes but estimated there would be 100, which he thought would fall short of a threshold for individual assistance. But FEMA officials saw enough of the known damage to judge that more was unknown and that Bulloch County should be included in individual assistance, he said Tuesday.
“We’re just really thankful to get that because there are a lot of folks that are hurting and they need some help right now, and that’s going to free up some federal resources to get them back on their feet,” Wynn said.
Federal money, he said, could even help pay for funeral expenses of people who died as a result of the storm.
The Bulloch EMA staff supplied maps and information to a FEMA team that began field work Tuesday and will be going door-to-door to collect information and look for damage. Wynn advises that anyone approached by someone claiming to be from FEMA verify the official’s identity by photo ID.
Recovery center coming
Residents and business owners can register by calling FEMA at 1-800-621-3362. There will also be a disaster recovery center established in the near future where citizens can go to meet with a FEMA representative, he said. More information will be released on that when it becomes available.
“No one will be overlooked and anyone whether insured or not should apply,” Wynn said in an email announcing the declarations.
In a phone interview, he expressed thanks to President Barack Obama, who ultimately approves FEMA disaster declarations, as well as to U.S. Rep. Rick Allen and State Rep. Jan Tankersley, who met with local officials and offered to talk to the state and federal agencies.
The public assistance to local governments could rise to 85 percent of costs if a timeliness deadline is met, and local officials hope the state will also fund a portion of the cost. Wynn also expressed appreciation to Gov. Nathan Deal for a disaster declaration, including Bulloch County, issued days before the storm arrived.
“He put us early in that declaration, and it helped us muster forces to face Hurricane Matthew,” Wynn said.