ATLANTA (Sept. 22, 2009) – State Senator Jim Butterworth (R-Clarkesville) led efforts with Gov. Sonny Perdue and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) to declare a state of emergency in Stephens County. There are 17 counties total on the list.
“The historic rain and flooding is tragic throughout Georgia. The citizens of Stephens County are facing terrible circumstances and I am grateful the governor has declared a state of emergency in Stephens County so they can get the aid and support to meet their needs quickly and efficiently,” said Sen. Butterworth.
Sen. Butterworth would like to remind citizens to stay informed of changes throughout the state by monitoring a radio or local TV station. If you need assistance, contact local officials and if you are told to evacuate, do so immediately.
GEMA is coordinating the response by running the State Operations Center, damage reports, public information, situation reports, resource coordination and field response. Other state agencies providing recovery efforts include the Georgia Forestry Commission which is deploying manpower and providing debris clearance, water tanker for Douglas County Hospital, water tender strike teams for structural fire support; the Georgia State Patrol is providing law enforcement for traffic control, road closures, helicopters; the Department of Transportation is putting up road closure signs, bridge inspections, detours; the Department of Human Services is providing hospital coordination, shelter coordination, boil water advisories; the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Division is providing boats, high water vehicles, manpower, water rescue, dam inspections, haz-mat spill assistance, water testing; and the Department of Agriculture is contributing to large animal evacuations and pet sheltering.
Other counties on the list are Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Crawford, DeKalb, Douglas, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, and Walker counties.
For more information please visit GEMA’s web site at www.gema.ga.gov. To learn how to prepare for disaster, visit www.ready.ga.gov .
Sen. Jim Butterworth represents the 50th Senate District which includes Towns, Rabun, Habersham, Stephens, Banks, Franklin, and Hart counties along with a portion of White County. He can be reached by phone at 404.463.5257 or by email at jim.butterworth@senate.ga.gov.
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
September, 22, 2009
For Information Contact:
Raegan Weber, Director
Katie Wright, Communications Associate
katie.wright@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028