Biden-Harris Administration Updates on Hurricane Helene Response in Florida, Georgia, Oct. 2

This update on Biden-Harris Administration’s Hurricane Helene Response is provided by the White House:

President Biden and Vice President Harris continue to mobilize an intensive Federal response to the impacts of Hurricane Helene. The Administration is prioritizing life-saving and life-sustaining response efforts in impacted communities, as well as ensuring people displaced from the storm have prompt access to Federal resources that will enable them to both purchase essential items and begin their road to recovery and rebuilding.

President Biden has “received praise from Republican governors” as a result of his leadership throughout the response – including speaking to several Republican leaders across the country.

Biden-Harris Administration Updates on Hurricane Helene Response in Florida

Latest updates as of October 2:

The White House has reached out to more than 200 officials across Florida over the last few days to offer support and gauge additional assistance needs.
President Biden made additional disaster assistance available to the State of Florida by authorizing an increase in the level of Federal funding for emergency work. Under the President’s order today, Federal funds for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, has been increased to 100 percent of the total eligible costs for 90 days from the start of the incident period.
President Biden approved a major disaster declaration for the state of Florida, allowing survivors to immediately access funds and resources to jumpstart their recovery. People in 17 counties in Florida can now apply for assistance with FEMA. People can apply in three ways: online by visiting disasterassistance.gov, calling 1-800-621-3362 or on the FEMA App.
- FEMA assistance in Florida may include upfront funds to help with essential items like food, water, baby formula and other emergency supplies. Funds may also be available to repair storm-related damage to homes and personal property, as well as assistance to find a temporary place to stay.
Five counties were added for individual assistance in response to Hurricane Helene. Florida homeowners and renters in 22 counties who had uninsured damage or losses caused by Hurricane Helene may be eligible for FEMA disaster assistance.
- FEMA may be able to help with serious needs, displacement, temporary lodging, basic home repair costs, personal property loss or other disaster-caused needs. Homeowners and renters in Charlotte, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Franklin, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Leon, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Suwannee, Taylor and Wakulla counties can apply.
FEMA has already approved more than $3 million to help survivors recover.
FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance crews are in Florida neighborhoods helping people apply for FEMA assistance after Hurricane Helene.
Disaster Recovery Centers are operating in Pinellas, Taylor, Manatee, Sarasota and Hillsborough counties to provide one-on-one help to Floridians affected by Hurricane Helene.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is conducting debris assessments in four counties and water/wastewater assessments in three counties.
The Salvation Army has 29 active mobile feeding units serving meals & distributing supplies in nine counties.
The American Red Cross is conducting direct emergency feeding and working with feeding partners to provide distribution in support of partner production
Team Rubicon Greyshirts will arrive soon to begin several weeks of muckouts/removal of mud and debris from homes.
FEMA awarded an expedited grant of nearly $18.7 million to the State of Florida for emergency protective measures for Hurricane Helene, including search and rescue, search and recovery, patient movement, critical infrastructure and hazardous materials response, emergency operations support and mass care coordination.
FEMA Voluntary Agency Liaisons are working are working with the state to help coordinate voluntary support efforts.
EPA is providing a mobile testing lab to assist the state with water sample testing.

Biden-Harris Administration Updates on Hurricane Helene Response in Georgia

Latest updates as of October 2:

Vice President Harris visited Georgia today to receive operational briefings, meet with residents impacted by the storm, and provide updates to local officials on actions that are being taken to support emergency response and recovery efforts in Georgia.
The President has approved Governor Kemp’s request for a 100 percent Federal cost share for debris removal and emergency protective measures for three months. This will support the urgent work to address the impacts from debris removal and flooding, and will cover costs of first responders, search and rescue, shelters, mass feeding, and other emergency response activities in this critical time.
President Biden approved a Major Disaster declaration for Georgia, allowing individuals in 41 counties to apply for FEMA assistance. People in these Georgia counties can now apply for assistance with FEMA.
- People can apply in three ways: online by visiting disasterassistance.gov, calling 1-800-621-3362 or on the FEMA App.
FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance teams are in the field, focusing on shelters where they will assist survivors in applying for assistance.
FEMA has already approved more than $663,000 in individual assistance to survivors.
Power restoration crews continue working 24 hours a day throughout parts of Georgia. Generators, mutual aid crews and additional power restoration assets are being moved into the hardest hit areas as debris removal allows.
The U.S. Department of Energy has responders deployed to Georgia to assist restoration efforts.
A FEMA Incident Management Assistance Team is onsite at the state Emergency Operations Center to coordinate with the state and facilitate any requests for assistance.
In Georgia, 520 survivors are staying in eight shelters.
The American Red Cross is conducting direct emergency feeding and working with feeding partners to provide distribution in support of partner production.
The Salvation Army has 26 active mobile feeding in 10 Georgia counties.
Team Rubicon is conducting route clearing operations in Ray City.
Residents can find resources like shelters and feeding sites at gema.georgia.gov/hurricane-helene.
In Georgia 75% of power outages have been restored.
Five FEMA Division Supervisors are establishing contact with Georgia Emergency Management Agency Regional Coordinators.
FEMA is supporting commodity requests across the state, including water, ice, shelf-stable meals, fuel (gasoline, diesel, propane) and tarps.
FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance teams are conducting Assess, Inform Report missions. These mission focus on disaster impacts to the community and reflect emerging or critical issues impacting the community such as infrastructure and public services. These data points are issues that could affect most if not all survivors in the community.
Ten American Red Cross shelters are open with a population of 513. Shelters are in Brooks, Clinch, Coffee, Cook, Lanier, Lowndes, McDuffie, Pierce, Richmond, and Treutlan counties
Two animal shelters are open including one American Red Cross shelter in Cook County.