Pierce County is set to receive $1.7 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to aid in recovery efforts from Tropical Storm Debby and Hurricane Helene last year.
Pierce County’s relief funds are part of $49 million allocated for disaster relief statewide. The announcement comes almost a year to the day since Hurricane Helene devastated the area.
The $1.7 million awarded to Pierce County will be used to remove approximately 145,746 cubic yards of vegetative debris from roads and public properties.
The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) also received $1.6 million in funding for road repairs statewide.
The funding helps state and local governments cover road repair, critical infrastructure restoration, debris removal and other emergency actions taken to protect life and property following the storms.
FEMA is reimb ursing these costs at no less than a 75 percent federal share with some projects funded at 100 percent through its public assistance program. To date, more than $798.2 million has been provided to the state for road repair, debris removal, critical infrastructure repair and more.
Tropical Storm Debby dumped torrential rains on Pierce County in early August, 2024 and was followed by Hurricane Helene which hit the evening of Sept. 27, 2024. Helene was the first major hurricane to hit Pierce County since at least the 1890s. Uno fficial wind gusts of up to 100 miles per hour were reported during the storm. Helene resulted in one fatality locally. Blackshear Assistant Fire Chief Leon Davis died in the line of duty during the hurricane.
