WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced Friday that federal emergency aid has been made available to Georgia to supplement state and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions in the area affected by Hurricane Irma.

The president's action authorizes FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe. Counties declared are Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Brantley, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Echols, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Glynn, Jenkins, Jeff Davis, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, Pierce, Screven, Tattnall, Toombs, Treutlen, Wayne and Ware. 

Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency.  Debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding.

Thomas J. McCool has been named the federal coordinating officer for federal response operations in the affected area.  McCool said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further evaluation.