Gov. Sonny Perdue announced Thursday that President Barack Obama has issued a federal disaster declaration to provide aid to residents of four Georgia counties in the wake of destructive flooding. Individual assistance for recovery efforts will be given to residents of Cobb, Paulding, Douglas and Cherokee counties.

Perdue declared a state of emergency in 17 counties Monday. The part of his request covering other counties and for government buildings and public costs from the storm is still pending. Aid from the declaration may include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses.

Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Obama’s major disaster declaration issued for Georgia.

Assistance for Affected Individuals and Families Can Include as Required:

• Rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable. Initial assistance may be provided for up to three months for homeowners and at least one month for renters. Assistance may be extended if requested after the initial period based on a review of individual applicant requirements. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)
• Grants for home repairs and replacement of essential household items not covered by insurance to make damaged dwellings safe, sanitary and functional. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)
• Grants to replace personal property and help meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state and charitable aid programs. (Source: FEMA funded at 75 percent of total eligible costs; 25 percent funded by the state.)
• Unemployment payments up to 26 weeks for workers who temporarily lost jobs because of the disaster and who do not qualify for state benefits, such as self-employed individuals. (Source: FEMA funded; state administered.)
• Low-interest loans to cover residential losses not fully compensated by insurance. Loans available up to $200,000 for primary residence; $40,000 for personal property, including renter losses. Loans available up to $2 million for business property losses not fully compensated by insurance. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)
• Loans up to $2 million for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes that have suffered disaster-related cash flow problems and need funds for working capital to recover from the disaster’s adverse economic impact. This loan in combination with a property loss loan cannot exceed a total of $2 million. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)
• Loans up to $500,000 for farmers, ranchers and aquaculture operators to cover production and property losses, excluding primary residence. (Source: Farm Service Agency, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.)
• Other relief programs: Crisis counseling for those traumatized by the disaster; income tax assistance for filing casualty losses; advisory assistance for legal, veterans benefits and social security matters.
• Assistance for the State and Affected Local Governments Can Include as Required:
• Payment of not more than 75 percent of the approved costs for hazard mitigation projects undertaken by state and local governments to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural or technological disasters. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)

How to Apply for Assistance:

• Those in the counties designated for assistance to affected residents and business owners can begin the disaster application process by registering online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers are available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (local time) Monday through Sunday until further notice. Applicants registering for aid should be prepared to provide basic information about themselves (name, permanent address, phone number), insurance coverage and any other information to help substantiate losses.
• Application procedures for local governments will be explained at a series of federal/state applicant briefings with locations to be announced in the affected area by recovery officials. Approved public repair projects are paid through the state from funding provided by FEMA and other participating federal agencies.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Sep 23, 2009: East Cobb Park was heavily damaged as a result of the 2009 flooding in Cobb County. Sope Creek, which runs alongside East Cobb Park, flooded the main playground and the grass fields. The rapidly moving waters washed away all of the playground mulch, washed away benches, dug trenches and uprooted and washed away plants and shrubbery. At the highest point, water was 4 feet above the park’s bridge connecting to Fuller’s Park. Trees have fallen on the bridge and knocked out part of a fence surrounding the playground.

The park was closed for a period of time and all activities including Ultimate Playdates and Movie Nights were suspended. Damage was estimated at about $150,000 and Friends for the East Cobb Park, with the help of donors, worked to restore the park to its previous state.

Friends for the East Cobb Park
1200 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 250
Marietta GA 30068

All Cobb County School District and Marietta City School District schools will be open on Thursday, Sept. 24 2009.

For students in the Cobb County School System who cannot access your usual bus stop, please call Transportation’s dispatch office at 770-429-5880, 770-429-5881 or 770-429-5882.

Many roads in Cobb County remain inaccessible due to damage from flooding.

Clarkdale Elementary School Info and Updates
Clarkdale Elementary School was inundated with floodwaters Monday afternoon after students were safely evacuated. On Tuesday afternoon, the main school building remained substantially under water. The contingency plan for Clarkdale involves creating space at nearby Austell Intermediate and Compton Elementary schools. Austell Intermediate School will host 225 students in grades 3-5, while Compton Elementary School will host 217 students in grades K-2. Furniture and materials from the district’s warehouse will be installed in available classrooms on Wednesday. Some Clarkdale classes will be combined in order to maximize available space. Above is a photo of Clarkdale Elementary taken Tuesday afternoon.

For the latest news, please visit the school systems website:

Marietta City Schools:
http://www.marietta-city.org/

Cobb County Schools:
http://www.cobbk12.org/

The Red Cross has opened a shelter in Marietta for those displaced by flooding. Red Cross is providing a safe place to stay, food to eat, and a shoulder to lean on for those affected by the flooding which has prompted evacuations, washed out bridges, caused landslides, and closed highways across the area.

“These flood waters can come up very rapidly. People should be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice,” said Joe Becker, Senior Vice President Red Cross Disaster Services, “We have shelters open which offer a safe haven for those who have been forced out of their homes.”

As of 6pm on Today, the Red Cross reported that 348 people registered at shelters in Metro Atlanta, and 291 of those were at the Cobb County Civic Center in Marietta.

The shelter is located at the Cobb County Civic Center at 548 S. Marietta Pkwy SE, Marietta, GA. For more information on the shelter, please contact the Red Cross at 404-876-3302.

To donate to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or mail your donation to the American Red Cross at P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.