Trump administration denies Kemp’s bid to extend Hurricane Helene aid deadline
President Donald Trump’s administration has denied Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s request to give local governments more time to apply for federal disaster assistance after Hurricane Helene.
Hurricane Helene, which struck the Southeast last September, was one of the most destructive and deadly tropical storms in U.S. history, responsible for at least 219 deaths and almost $80 billion in damages. The storm caused an estimated $5.5 billion in damage to Georgia’s agriculture and forestry sectors alone, according to estimates from the University of Georgia.
Kemp had asked for an extension for debris removal and emergency protective measures.
“Based on our review of all the information available, it has been determined that the increased level of funding you have requested … is not warranted,” Cameron Hamilton, acting administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, wrote in a letter to Kemp.
Kemp spokesman Garrison Douglas said the governor’s midyear spending plan includes funding projected to cover the non-federal cleanup expenses that had been eligible for federal reimbursement.
Georgia’s Democratic U.S. senators — Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock — had also asked the Trump administration to extend the deadline.
“This decision is wrong, and I urge the Trump administration to reverse course and ensure Georgia’s local governments get the vital support they need,” Ossoff said.
The denial follows efforts by other Georgia leaders to press the Trump administration to extend the aid application window.
On Wednesday, the same day FEMA wrote Kemp to deny the governor’s request, Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns and state Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper also wrote a letter to Trump asking him to extend the deadline.
Burns, a Newington Republican, and Harper also asked Trump to provide clarity on when outstanding federal disaster relief will be released to Georgians, particularly farmers.
“Right now, the future is uncertain for far too many Georgia farmers, and without assistance, some of them will not make it through this growing season,” the pair wrote.
Burns’ office issued a statement Friday saying: “We look forward to continue working diligently with the Trump administration and the Governor to deliver the resources our farmers, families and communities need to recover as quickly as possible.”
Harper’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
About the Authors
Greg Bluestein is the Atlanta Journal Constitution's chief political reporter. He is also an author, TV analyst and co-host of the Politically Georgia podcast.
Drew Kann is a reporter at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution covering climate change and environmental issues. His passion is for stories that capture how humans are responding to a changing environment. He is a proud graduate of the University of Georgia and Northwestern University, and prior to joining the AJC, he held various roles at CNN.
