FEMA grant pays for last year's storm damage

When Tropical Storm Irma barreled into Georgia in early September 2017, the University of North Georgia's (UNG) Dahlonega and Gainesville campuses sustained damage ranging from tree debris to wreckage of a well at Pine Valley.

"A glass door was shattered at the main entrance of the Library and Technology Center on the Dahlonega Campus," said Greg Williams, assistant director of emergency preparedness with the Department of Public Safety at UNG. "And the Gainesville Campus was without power for 13 hours."

Now, UNG is being reimbursed for its cleanup efforts following the storm thanks to a grant totaling nearly $49,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Williams said while FEMA allocates the money, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency distributes the checks in four payments.

"We had a person from FEMA come here to survey the damage and view the pictures that documented the damage on both campuses," Williams said.

UNG's request worked its way through the review process, before receiving word $48,754 was approved this year.

"The money covers the labor costs associated with the clean-up efforts," Williams said. "And we were reimbursed for using our generators to provide emergency power."