Author: Submitted

After Georgians apply for disaster assistance for Tropical Storm Debby, with an incident period of Aug. 4-20, 2024, or for Hurricane Helene, FEMA may call you to schedule an inspection of the damaged home, or to obtain more information to process your application for assistance. People who only applied for assistance for one of the disasters may also receive a call to inform them that they can apply for assistance for both disasters. These calls may come from unfamiliar area codes or phone numbers. It is important to answer the call as FEMA specialists may be calling to obtain more…

Two weeks after Hurricane Helene’s ravaging trek through Georgia, new reports detail its staggering blow to private landowners and the state’s valuable forest resource. A Georgia Forestry Commission assessment shows the storm traversed 8.9 million acres of forestland, with a total timber resource impact of $1.28 billion. “Our GFC sawyers and bulldozer crews have been responding to this disaster since it made landfall a couple of weeks ago,” said Georgia Forestry Commission Director John Sabo. “Once a large portion of infrastructure was improved, foresters moved from logistical support of GFC’s crews to conduct a rapid timber damage assessment. The assessment highlights…

Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available to businesses and residents in Georgia following the announcement of a Presidential disaster declaration for Hurricane Helene that began on Sept. 25.”SBA’s mission-driven team stands ready to help small businesses and residents in Georgia impacted by this disaster in every way possible under President Biden’s disaster declaration for certain affected areas,” said SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman. “We’re committed to providing federal disaster loans swiftly and efficiently, with a customer-centric approach to help businesses and communities recover and rebuild.”The disaster declaration covers Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien,…

Pilgrim’s (NASDAQ: PPC), leading global food company, has announced a $1 million investment to assist with community recovery needs and support long-term rebuilding efforts in Douglas, Ga., resulting from Hurricane Helene damage.”The community has always supported Pilgrim’s, and we want to ensure we’re doing all we can to support our team members and our neighbors during this challenging time,” said Mark Dean, Douglas Complex Manager, Pilgrim’s. “We are focused on contributing to rebuilding efforts so that we can get our town back to what it was as quickly as possible.”Pilgrim’s is determining how funds will be spent as needs are…

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, our community is facing unimaginable challenges. The storm has left many without water and power, creating an overwhelming sense of uncertainty and distress. It’s heartbreaking to see neighbors struggling to return to their homes and local gatherings that once brought joy and connection. During these times, it’s essential to lean on one another and remember that we are not alone in our struggles. Together, we can find solace and strength as we navigate this difficult period.To foster that sense of community and support, several local churches are coming together to host a special community…

The Community Foundation of Coffee County has created the Coffee County Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund to accept charitable contributions that will be used to help support both immediate relief efforts and long-term recovery needs specifically in Coffee County. People can give online using this link https://cfcg.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=2419 In addition to giving online, donors can CFCG staff will work with the Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of Coffee County to deploy these resources to meet needs in Coffee County, and I can share more about that in the coming days/weeks. The Community Foundation of Central Georgia worked with the Lamar County…

Governor Brian Kemp has announced residents in 41 Georgia counties affected by Hurricane Helene are now eligible to apply for disaster assistance. The Major Disaster Declaration provides Individual Assistance and Public Assistance (Categories A and B) to Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Bulloch, Burke, Candler, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Echols, Emanuel, Evans, Glascock, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Lincoln, Lowndes, McDuffie, Montgomery, Pierce, Richmond, Screven, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Ware, Washington, and Wheeler Counties. “The Major Disaster Declaration will begin to provide critical resources to the limited counties designated for Hurricane Helene.…

Coffee Regional Medical Center has released a statement regarding its operations in the aftermath of the unprecedented destruction left in the wake of Hurricane Helene: “We are pleased to announce that Coffee Regional Medical Center is fully operational and serving our patients and community after the challenges posed by Hurricane Helene. Your health and well-being are our top priorities, and we are committed to providing the care you need. “Our normal visiting hours are now in effect, but to ensure safety, we are limiting visitation to two designated visitors per patient. Visiting hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.…

Douglas National Bank (DNB) has once again demonstrated its unwavering commitment to the health and well-being of our community by contributing $200,000 through the Georgia HEART Hospital Program. This generous donation will directly support Coffee Regional Medical Center (CRMC) in its ongoing efforts to provide top-quality healthcare to the residents of Coffee County and beyond. DNB President and CEO Stuart Smith expressed the bank’s deep-rooted connection to the community, stating, “We are proud of our partnership and increasing association with CRMC. AT DNB, our mission goes beyond banking. As a true community bank, it is important to show strong support…

Douglas Utilities will celebrate Public Power Week from Oct. 6 to 12, 2024, along with the American Public Power Association and approximately 2,000 other community-owned, not-for-profit electric utilities that collectively provide electricity to 54 million Americans. This year, Public Power Week focuses on providing reliable, affordable, sustainable, and customer-focused services to the community. “We know that using energy wisely to lower monthly electric bills is important to Douglas residents. And we recognize that even as our utility builds for the future we encourage our customers to do their part to help save energy,” says Charlie Davis, City Manager. “While we…