Please see additional information about FEMA disaster relief below.
Displacement Assistance
FEMA provides Displacement Assistance to eligible survivors of Hurricane Helene and Tropical Storm Debby, damage Aug 4-20, 2024, who can’t return to their home following the storms. This is money people can use to stay in a hotel or motel, with family and friends, or any other available housing options. After 14 days of receiving this assistance, Georgians who continue to have a housing need should contact FEMA to request Rental Assistance.
Who can get Displacement Assistance?
You may get Displacement Assistance if:
• You or someone in your home is a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified non-citizen;
• FEMA can confirm your identity;
• Your home is in a declared disaster area for Hurricane Helene or Tropical Storm Debby;
• You live in your home most of the year;
• A FEMA inspection determines your home is not safe to live in, or an inspection can’t be completed because your home is inaccessible;
• You don’t have insurance, or your insurance doesn’t have Additional Living Expenses or Loss of Use coverage; and
• You apply for FEMA assistance during the registration period.
How much Displacement Assistance can I get?
The amount of money you get is based on 14 days of hotel costs based on a rate chosen by the state of Georgia. Displacement Assistance is a one-time payment.
FEMA may provide up to two weeks of funds for temporary lodging at a hotel, motel, or the home of friends or family, for displaced applicants who apply during the registration period.
Can I still get Displacement Assistance when I have insurance?
• Yes. If you have insurance, please see if you have Additional Living Expenses or Loss of Use coverage on your policy and contact your insurance company.
• If your insurance denies your claim or you do not have these types of coverage, you may be able to get Displacement Assistance.
• If you have insurance and used all of your Additional Living Expenses or Loss of Use benefits, you won’t get Displacement Assistance, but you can get Rental Assistance by sending FEMA documents that show you spent those benefits and still need help paying for temporary housing.
- NOTE: FEMA needs to see your insurance documentation because FEMA cannot pay for costs covered by another source, such as insurance.
What if I have more housing needs?
If you have used your Displacement Assistance and you still have housing needs after the 14-day period, you can ask for Rental Assistance from FEMA. You can request this by:
• Calling FEMA’s Helpline at 1-800-621-3362
• Requesting it in writing
• Speaking with a local FEMA representative in your area
You will not need to provide other documentation to get Rental Assistance.
If I don’t agree with FEMA’s decision, how can I appeal?
If you don’t agree with FEMA’s decision, you can appeal by showing why you need FEMA assistance. The decision letter you get from FEMA will have more information about the types of documents you should send.
You may use an optional Appeal Request form, which is included in the decision letter you receive from FEMA. You can also choose to write and sign a letter to send with your documents to help FEMA understand why you need help.
How can I send documents?
You can send supporting documents to FEMA by:
• Uploading to your disaster assistance account at DisasterAssistance.gov
• Mailing to FEMA, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055
• Faxing to 800-827-8112
• Visiting a Disaster Recovery Center. To find center locations and current hours, visit FEMA.gov/DRC.
For the latest information about Georgia’s recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4821 and fema.gov/disaster/4830. Follow FEMA on X at x.com/femaregion4 or on Facebook at facebook.com/fema.
FEMA Urges Residents to Spend Grant Money Wisely
If you are a disaster survivor in Georgia who received a federal disaster assistance grant from FEMA after Tropical Storm Debby, Aug. 4 - 20, 2024 or Hurricane Helene, it’s important to use the money only for disaster related expenses.
To help you make sure you’re using the money you received, FEMA sends a letter explaining what you can use the funds for, and listing the ways the money can be used. Disaster grants are not for regular living expenses. You should keep receipts for all expense for at least three years because FEMA can require you to repay the grant If you spend it on anything other than the purpose for which it is intended.
Examples of expenses this grant covers include:
• Home repairs such as structure, water, septic and sewage systems.
• Rental assistance for rent and/or deposit.
• Repair or replacement of a flooded essential vehicle.
• Medical or dental care for an uninsured injury caused by the disaster.
• Repair of occupational specialized tools.
• Necessary educational materials such as computers, schoolbooks, supplies.
• Moving and storage expenses related to the disaster.
• Increased childcare expenses.
Please read your FEMA determination letter carefully to make sure you include all required documents and information.
It’s also important to make sure FEMA has your most up-to-date contact information, including addresses, phone numbers and bank accounts. If FEMA does not have your correct information, you may miss letters or phone calls about your assistance application or payment status.
If you have any questions about your FEMA disaster assistance grant, call the FEMA Helpline, 800-621-3362 between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. ET. Help is available in most languages.
For the latest information about Georgia’s recovery, visit FEMA’s Hurricane Debby Georgia page or FEMA’s Hurricane Helene Georgia page. Follow FEMA on X at x.com/femaregion4 or on Facebook at facebook.com/fema.
Unemployment Assistance
Employees or self-employed Georgians who became unemployed as a direct consequence of Tropical Storm Debby or Hurricane Helene may be eligible to receive Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance. Receiving this assistance does not affect your ability to apply for or receive other FEMA assistance.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance is a FEMA-funded, state managed federal program that helps workers whose primary income is lost or interrupted as a direct result of a disaster declared by the President. Unlike regular state unemployment insurance, it provides benefits to people who are self-employed, farmers, diversified farming operators, loggers, commission-paid employees, and others who are not eligible under the state's program.
In Georgia, the deadlines to apply depend on the disaster declaration dates.
For Tropical Storm Debby:
• Nov. 25 for residents in Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham, Effingham, Evans, Liberty, Long and Screven counties.
For Hurricane Helene:
• Dec. 2 for residents in Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Bulloch, Burke, Candler, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Echols, Emanuel, Evans, Glascock, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Lincoln, Lowndes, McDuffie, Montgomery, Pierce, Richmond, Screven, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Ware, Washington and Wheeler counties.
• Dec. 3 for residents in Effingham, Elbert, Rabun and Tift counties.
• Dec. 6 for residents in Brantley, Bryan, Butts, Camden, Charlton, Dodge, Fulton, Glynn, Hancock, Long, McIntosh, Newton, Thomas, Warren and Wayne counties.
Additional counties may be added at a later date. Please visit the Georgia Department of Labor Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance page to learn what you need to file an application and see a list of disaster-related benefit facts.
To apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Georgians must first apply for regular unemployment insurance on the Georgia Department of Labor website at dol.georgia.gov or in person at any GDOL career center. Only those who are ineligible for regular unemployment insurance can be considered eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits.
The Georgia Department of Labor will notify you if you are eligible to file for Disaster Unemployment Assistance. Income verification may be required when applying for these benefits. People should be prepared to provide proof of earnings for the most recently completed tax year. Acceptable proof of earnings includes copies of the most recently completed income tax returns, quarterly estimated income tax payment records, or similar documents.
For additional information on Disaster Unemployment Assistance, visit dol.georgia.gov or call the Georgia Department of Labor toll-free customer service line at 1-877-709-8185.
For the latest information about Georgia’s recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4821 and fema.gov/disaster/4830. Follow FEMA on X at x.com/femaregion4 or on Facebook at facebook.com/fema.