2024

Georgia Hurricane Helene

Page last updated: 01/07/2025

All disasters declared after March 22, 2024, fall under new Individual Assistance (IA) rules. For more information, please see FEMA’s press release here.

FEMA has established a Rumor Response page to address the many rumors, urban legends, and scams that are circulating around Hurricane Helene. To visit this page, click here.

Georgia Hurricane Helene (DR- 4830)

Hurricane Helene struck Georgia and caused widespread damage across the southeastern United States, starting on September 24, 2024. On September 30, 2024, President Biden declared a major disaster.

People in the following counties are eligible to receive federal disaster assistance:

  • Appling
  • Atkinson1
  • Bacon1
  • Ben Hill1
  • Berrien1
  • Brantley5
  • Brooks
  • Bryan3
  • Burke1
  • Bulloch1
  • Butts3
  • Camden3
  • Candler1
  • Chatham1
  • Charlton3
  • Clinch1
  • Coffee
  • Columbia
  • Colquitt1
  • Cook1
  • Dodge4
  • Echols1
  • Effingham2
  • Elbert2
  • Emanuel1
  • Evans1
  • Fulton5
  • Glascock1
  • Glynn3
  • Hancock4
  • Irwin1
  • Jeff Davis1
  • Jefferson
  • Jenkins1
  • Johnson1
  • Lanier1
  • Laurens
  • Liberty
  • Lincoln1
  • Long3
  • Lowndes
  • McDuffie1
  • McIntosh6
  • Montgomery1
  • Newton3
  • Pierce
  • Rabun2
  • Richmond
  • Screven1
  • Stephens8
  • Taliaferro7
  • Tattnall
  • Telfair1
  • Thomas4
  • Tift2
  • Toombs
  • Treutlen1
  • Ware1
  • Warren4
  • Washington1
  • Wayne3
  • Wheeler1
  • Wilkes8

1 These counties were added on October 1, 2024.
2 These counties were added on October 3, 2024.
3 These counties were added on October 4, 2024.
4 These counties were added on October 9, 2024.
5 These counties were added on October 11, 2024.
6 McIntosh County was added October 14, 2024.
7 Talliafero County was added October 16, 2024.
8 Wilkes and Stephens Counties were added November 4, 2024.

For the complete whitehouse.gov press release, please click here.

Important Deadlines

FEMA Application Deadline

Extended to Friday, February 7, 2025

Appeal your FEMA decision letter

Within 60 days of the date on the determination letter.

Apply for Disaster Unemployment

Monday, December 2, 2024

As of October 1, 2024, only survivors in the following counties are eligible:

  • Appling
  • Brooks
  • Coffee
  • Columbia
  • Jefferson
  • Liberty
  • Lowndes
  • Pierce
  • Richmond
  • Tattnall
  • Toombs
  • Apply for SNAP Replacement

    Extended to Friday, October 25, 2024.

    Automatic SNAP Replacement

    Georgia Helene survivors in 58 counties will automatically receive up to 75% of their September SNAP benefit. No further action is required.

    Apply for D-SNAP

    D-SNAP will be implemented in four phases from October 21 through November 23, 2024.

    Please see the link below to find out when your county will be eligible to apply.

    Additional counties were added on October 21, 2024.

    FEMA Assistance

    Applications for FEMA Assistance can be submitted by:

    Phone: Contact FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY users can call 1-800-462-7585.

    Online: Fill out the application at DisasterAssistance.gov

    In-Person: You can also fill out the application at a FEMA Disaster Resource Center (DRC).

    Mobile Registration Intake Center: MRICs move around regularly. They will be in an area for a short period of time to help survivors who need registration help. Visit FEMA’s Disaster Declaration page to find more information about the Mobile Registration Intake Center locations and hours.

    Disaster Recovery Center: To find a Disaster Recovery Center near you, use the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s DRC locator or text “DRC” and your zip code to 43362 (4FEMA) to locate a Disaster Recovery Center in your area.

    Safety & Shelter Resources

    Please check your local news and local officials for the latest safety and shelter resources.

    Access information on Safety and Shelter assistance through the resources below.

    A free legal help hotline is now available for Hurricane Helene survivors. Survivors can call (866) 584-8027 anytime, and leave a message if calling after hours.

    For more information, please see the complete press release here.