Fulton County is among 76 Georgia counties covered by a federal emergency declaration following Hurricane Isaias, allowing FEMA to help state and local officials respond to storm damage.
The declaration authorizes federal equipment, personnel and other resources for affected communities, including Alpharetta and Milton. Federal approval was announced Saturday, Oct. 10, according to FOX 5 reporting carried by AOL.
According to FEMA’s announcement, eligible emergency protective measures provided through direct federal assistance will receive 75% federal funding.
The declaration does not automatically make household assistance available. Residents should not assume it authorizes FEMA grants for home repairs or temporary housing. Any additional assistance would require a separate announcement.
Storm brought outages and fallen trees
Isaias made landfall near Destin, Florida, on Friday, Oct. 9, as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph. Landfall occurred at about 9:30 p.m. Eastern, or 8:30 p.m. Central, according to Florida’s official storm update.
The storm weakened into a post-tropical cyclone as it moved inland over Alabama and brought rain and strong winds into Georgia.
Across North Georgia, fallen trees damaged homes, vehicles and utility lines. Saturated ground and wind contributed to the damage, FOX 5 reported.
Utility crews made substantial progress restoring electricity Saturday. The station reported roughly 9,000 customers remained without power statewide at 10:29 p.m. That figure represents conditions at that time, rather than a current outage count.
What residents should do
Emergency officials urged residents to avoid downed power lines and flooded roads and follow instructions from local authorities.
The wind warning and flood watch described in weekend forecasts were scheduled to end Sunday morning. Residents should consult current weather alerts and local emergency updates for conditions affecting their neighborhood.
FEMA’s announcement named Allan Jarvis as the federal coordinating officer and said additional counties could be designated if requested by the state and supported by further assessments.
Residents can check FEMA’s website for updates on the declaration and any future household assistance. FEMA’s helpline is 1-800-621-3362.
