As the two-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene approaches, Governor Brian Kemp has announced that the state has been awarded nearly $500 million to help communities affected by the storm. The aid comes from the 2025 American Relief Act which provides supplemental appropriations to federal agencies for disaster relief.
This relief is specifically meant to strengthen the resilience of the drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in places where the storm hit. Communities that can show how their area was impacted by Hurricane Helene and how they propose to reduce the future risk of flooding or strengthen the infrastructure for drinking water and wastewater systems will be eligible for this funding. The funds will be dispersed by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA).
Hurricane Helene hit Georgia and five other southeastern states during the week of September 26, 2024. The storm left a total of 250 dead, and Georgia’s agricultural industry lost an estimated $6.5 billion.
Governor Kemp said that these relief funds will help accelerate the ongoing recovery effort so that the state will be better prepared for future storms.
