FEMA is ready to write checks after Helene. Here's how to get one

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – President Joe Biden issued a major disaster declaration in and around Augusta on Tuesday due to Hurricane Helene.

The declaration includes Columbia, Emanuel, Glascock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Screven and Washington counties.

In Georgia, the Federal Emergency Management Agency received more than 60,000 requests for assistance due to the storm and approved more than $663,000 in individual aid for survivors.

The aid approval comes just after FEMA expanded its Individual Assistance program this spring.

The first thing people will be eligible for is a one-time payment of $750 to help them buy essential items like food, water, formula and other emergency supplies.

The money can be used to repair damages regardless of pre-existing conditions. It can also be used to make a damaged house accessible to people with disabilities.

Survivors can also apply for a low-interest small business loan at the same time they apply for FEMA assistance.

FEMA will also consider all applicants for its Severe Needs Assistance and Relocation Assistance programs.

FEMA provides federal funds directly to families and small business owners affected by the hurricane. But how long will it take for the money to reach people who need help as soon as possible?

Damage caused in Halifax North after Hurricane Helene.

FEMA has not given us a timeline.

“Requests are reviewed daily to provide assistance to survivors as quickly as possible,” FEMA said.

People can apply in four ways: online by visiting catastropheassistance.gov, by calling 800-621-3362, on the FEMA application, or by visiting disaster recovery centers.

After you register, you can also get help repairing storm damage to homes and replacing your belongings, as well as help finding housing.

Here’s what you need to submit a FEMA claim:

Your social security card.
Your ID.
All your insurance information, meaning any coverage you have, from mobile home and auto insurance to flood insurance.
A list of all damage.
Records showing your income at the time of the injury.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

First file a claim with your home insurance.
FEMA only covers what your provider doesn’t cover.
Help may also come in the form of reimbursement for things like additional child care, accommodation, and cleaning tools like chainsaws.

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Across the Helen-affected region, FEMA has already provided more than $10 million in initial and flexible funding.

More than 4,800 federal personnel are deployed and more than 1,000 are from FEMA. To date, FEMA has shipped more than 8.8 million meals, more than 7.4 million gallons of water, 150 generators and more than 225,000 tarps to the region.

FEMA says its teams are on the ground in Georgia and focused on shelters where they will help survivors seek help.

News 12 is working to verify if these teams are in Richmond County.