Atlanta, GA ~ Governor Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp have been actively involved in the recovery efforts for communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. This week, they embarked on a tour of rural Georgia to visit some of the areas facing the greatest challenges from the storm.

The Governor and First Lady made stops in Berrien County, Coffee County, Jeff Davis County, Wheeler County, Laurens County, Johnson County, Washington County, Jefferson County, Glascock County, and McDuffie County. During these visits, they met with local emergency management officials and leaders who are working tirelessly to restore power and document damage. They also had the opportunity to speak with Georgians who have been directly impacted by the storm and hear about their ongoing struggles in the recovery process.

Accompanied by GEMA/HS Director Chris Stallings and General Dwayne Wilson of the Georgia National Guard, as well as statewide, federal and local elected leaders and emergency management officials, Governor Kemp and First Lady Kemp were able to witness firsthand the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.

In addition to their tour of impacted communities, Governor Kemp has taken several executive actions to aid in the recovery efforts. On Monday, September 30th he requested an expedited emergency declaration from FEMA to ensure that counties in need received assistance as quickly as possible. He also authorized an additional 1,000 Georgia Guard troops to assist with response and recovery efforts.

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The following day, Governor Kemp issued an executive order extending the state of emergency for all 159 Georgia counties through October 9th. He also urged FEMA to expand their initial federal disaster declaration to include an additional 30 counties. The Governor continues to advocate for all impacted communities to receive the necessary support.

To help ease recovery efforts statewide, the Georgia Department of Revenue suspended enforcement of state penalties for using dyed diesel on public roads through October 31st. This will make it easier for trucks to operate on Georgia's roads and reach communities in need. Additionally, the Governor, with the support of partners in the Georgia General Assembly, suspended the state motor and diesel fuel tax starting on Thursday, October 3rd and continuing through the duration of the state of emergency. This will help keep costs down for impacted communities facing supply chain disruptions.

Governor Kemp also announced that 41 out of the 90 counties in his request for an expedited disaster declaration from FEMA had received approval. He has been actively pushing for more counties to be added to the list and for additional support from federal agencies.

On Wednesday, October 2nd, following Governor Kemp's urging, FEMA agreed to cover 100% of the costs of cleanup for the first three months of the recovery. And on Thursday, October 3rd, Governor Kemp spoke with President Biden to thank him for visiting the state and to push for more counties to be added to the disaster declaration list and for additional support.

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The Governor also spoke with Secretary Vilsack and Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks to provide an update on needs surrounding access to meals ready-to-eat (MRE). He was joined by GEMA/HS Director Chris Stallings, General Dwayne Wilson of the Georgia National Guard, GDOT Commissioner Russell McMurry, and DPS leadership for a press conference providing updates on the state's response and current conditions on the ground.

These actions follow Governor Kemp's initial actions leading up to and immediately after Hurricane Helene hit. On September 24th, he declared a state of emergency for all 159 Georgia counties, enabling resources to be directed where they were needed most. The State Operations Center was put on full activation to coordinate response efforts among state agencies. And on September 27th, Governor Kemp issued an executive order expanding authorization for Georgia Guard troops by an additional 1,000.

Governor Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp have shown their dedication and commitment to helping Georgia communities recover from the impacts of Hurricane Helene. Their visits to impacted areas and executive actions demonstrate their determination to ensure that every available resource is directed towards those in need during this difficult time.

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