More than 150 people have died in six southeastern states since Hurricane Helene made landfall on Sept. 26. The hurricane left a path of destruction from Florida’s Gulf Coast through Georgia and North Carolina and into parts of the Blue Ridge Mountains in southwestern Virginia.
A Sept. 30 Facebook post from The White House outlined the Biden-Harris administration’s response efforts to Hurricane Helene, which included major disaster declarations for Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Those declarations give residents in those states immediate access to FEMA assistance, the post notes.
Several VERIFY readers asked why Georgia isn’t on this list and if that means people in Georgia aren’t able to get federal money for hurricane relief.
THE QUESTION
Can people in Georgia get federal hurricane relief funds?
THE SOURCES
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
THE ANSWER
Yes, people in Georgia can get federal hurricane relief funds.
WHAT WE FOUND
A Sept. 30 Facebook post from the White House listed three states where people are eligible for funds: North Carolina, Florida and South Carolina. Georgia was granted the same status the next day, and residents there are now eligible for assistance. The White House posted an updated list of eligible residents on Oct. 1, clarifying which residents are now eligible for relief…