News
News

Feds surveying Irma damage, aid expected

Residents watch over a huge fallen tree that caused the loss of the power in the neighborhood on Old Norcross Road in Tucker following Tropical Storm Irma, which swept across the metro area last week. Between 400 and 500 tons of debris related to the storm was brought to the DeKalb County landfill last week in just the initial stages of the cleanup. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM
Residents watch over a huge fallen tree that caused the loss of the power in the neighborhood on Old Norcross Road in Tucker following Tropical Storm Irma, which swept across the metro area last week. Between 400 and 500 tons of debris related to the storm was brought to the DeKalb County landfill last week in just the initial stages of the cleanup. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM
By
Sept 22, 2017

Tropical Storm Irma left cities and counties across Georgia with millions of dollars in damage and tons of debris to haul away.

This looks like a job for the federal government.

Teams of disaster experts with the Federal Emergency Management Agency fanned out across the state this week to survey the damage, the first step in unlocking disaster aid under President Donald Trump's emergency declaration for the state. The aid will pay the lion's share in cleaning up the mess made by Irma's sustained wind and coastal flooding, but accepting it comes with some risks.

Earlier this summer, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Inspector General’s office recommended FEMA attempt to recoup $2 billion in Hurricane Katrina relief given to New Orleans following that 2005 disaster. The report determined the flooding of that city was the result of infrastructure that was “old and in poor condition.”

Beware, Georgia: The accountants are coming. Read more in this week's AJC Watchdog column here.

About the Author

Joyner is the deputy politics editor. He has been with the AJC since 2010 as a member of the investigations and politics team.

Follow Chris Joyner on facebookFollow Chris Joyner on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

Blue heron are just one of the hundreds of kinds of animals and plants that call the Okefenokee Swamp home. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Is the Okefenokee World Heritage material? Scientists are trying to find out.

International scientists visited the Okefenokee Swamp to help determine whether the refuge inside it belongs on the prestigious World Heritage List.

Ex-PSC candidate took notebook of Georgia Power trade secrets, police say

A warrant alleges former Public Service Commission candidate Patty Durand placed a booklet of Georgia Power trade secret information into her purse and left a hearing room.

The Latest

ajc.com

Credit: AJC File

Sweet Tea: Take a look in a book

Where can I find it?

High school scoreboard: Friday night’s football action around the state

Featured

Housing affordability is the top concern for metro Atlanta residents, according to a new survey. (Ben Hendren for the AJC)

Credit: Ben Hendren

Metro Atlantans sour on housing affordability, pessimism is growing, poll says

The economy ranked as the top issue facing metro Atlanta last year, supplanting crime for the number one spot. This is the first year housing affordability has been an option.

DeKalb schools superintendent pleads not guilty to federal charges

Devon Horton has resigned from his role as DeKalb County superintendent, He has pleaded not guilty to federal charges stemming from his previous job in Illinois.

See video police say shows ex-PSC candidate Durand take Georgia Power secrets

Patty Durand has long criticized Georgia Power for concealing information under the cloak of trade secret about various initiatives and requests of state regulators.