Gov. Nathan Deal on Wednesday will tour damage from the storm that killed at least 15 people in south Georgia and five more across the region, making stops in the hard-hit cities of Adel and Albany on a trip that will also include meetings with first responders and local officials.
South Georgia leaders and residents have implored the federal government for more help, and Deal said the Federal Emergency Management Agency has taken an initial step to clear the way for more funding for the storm-ravaged area.
Deal said FEMA has taken an initial step to approve a request for emergency help for a Jan. 2 tornado that left $50 million in damage, and Deal said he’s confident a second request for assistance for Sunday’s deadly storms “will be granted and approved very quickly.”
Dougherty County officials said they already felt abandoned by FEMA after the Jan. 2 tornado and that Sunday's storms - which left four in the county dead - left the area in further need of help.
Deal said he’s confident President Donald Trump and his administration would respond. For good measure, his office said he asked the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA, to expedite the disaster declaration.
Meanwhile, Georgia lawmakers on Tuesday shifted $5 million in additional cash to Deal's emergency fund and the governor has declared 16 counties in a state of emergency. More than 250 state employees are working to clear debris, provide shelter and disaster relief.
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