The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency authorized $6.1 million in federal funds to reimburse local and state costs incurred while fighting numerous wildfires in southeast Georgia this spring.
“I appreciate FEMA’s response to our request for financial assistance,” Gov. Sonny Perdue said. “We took many necessary steps to protect our citizens and the natural resources within southeast Georgia and the Okefenokee Swamp during this intense and costly two and a half month fire fight. Now, it is reassuring to be able to begin the reimbursement process.”
FEMA made $6,127,168.50 available to Georgia last week following Perdue’s mid-April request for assistance to help Georgia fight the then-uncontrolled wildfire burning in Ware County. FEMA approved the first of five Fire Management Assistance Grants for the state on April 17.
FEMA approved the state’s request for federal fire suppression aid for five fire complexes that destroyed 21 structures and threatened communities throughout the southeast portion of the state before they consumed more than 600,000 acres in southeast Georgia and northern Florida.
The spring 2007 wildfires were the largest in Georgia’s history. Officials estimated the total cost of the firefighting response to be approximately $40 million.
Under the authorization, FEMA agreed to pay 75 percent of the state’s eligible firefighting costs.
Source: Office of the Governor of Georgia
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