The decision by the Trump administration to deny Georgia's request for an extension of hurricane relief funds has sparked frustration among state officials. Sen. Jon Ossoff voiced his displeasure over the situation, stating, "Georgia was devastated by Hurricane Helene last fall, and clean-up efforts by local governments are still underway. The Trump Administration just denied Georgia’s request to extend the period during which local governments can claim Federal assistance for cleanup efforts for Georgia," as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta. This comes in direct response to FEMA's action which adhered to a strict deadline for filing claims related to debris removal and protective measures, despite ongoing cleanup needs.
Gov. Brian Kemp had reached out to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in hopes of prolonging the period for local governments to receive these critical funds. Nevertheless, FEMA's retort was that the "increased level of funding you have requested...is not warranted." Detailed in a communication to Gov. Kemp and shared by 11Alive, this announcement did carry an addendum that the denial could be contested within a 30-day timeframe.
With Georgia still reeling from the catastrophic effects of Hurricane Helene which claimed 34 lives and inflicted billions in agricultural and infrastructural damage, the timing of the denial poses further challenges. Ossoff and fellow Sen. Rev. Raphael Warnock have emphasized the importance of the Debris Coverage Program to aid in the recovery. Their pleas, unfortunately, have thus far not swayed the administration's stance on granting an extension similar to that afforded to neighboring disaster-stricken states.
Compensating for the shortfall, Gov. Kemp's office plans to allocate state funds to cover the 25% non-federal cost share for post-hurricane expenses. "With the federal reimbursement now at 75%, the Governor’s proposed AFY25 budget includes funding projected to cover the 25% non-federal cost share for all eligible expenses that are incurred after the 100% federal reimbursement period and completed within the due date to be eligible for federal reimbursement," a spokesperson for Kemp's office explained to 11Alive.
