FEMA Assistance Deadline Approaching

Georgia—Citizens who have not applied for assistance through FEMA has only a few weeks to apply before their deadline. Home owners and renters who suffered uninsured damage to their property from Hurricane Idalia in South Georgia including Brooks, have three weeks to apply. The deadline for assistance from FEMA is Monday, November 6, 2023. 

Other South Georgia counties who may apply for FEMA assistance include Berrien, Lowndes, Cook, and Glynn counties. FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) are accessible and established in locations where specialist from FEMA’s Individual Assistance (IA) program help face to face. They explain to those who survived it and apply the recovery process, the types of assistance available such as housing and other needs. 

The location to apply in Brooks County is the Brooks County Agriculture Building located at 400 E. Courtland Avenue, Quitman, GA. Other locations include: 1) Cook County Extension Services located at 206 E. Ninth St., Adel, GA; 2) Lowndes County Civic Center located at 2108 E. Hill Avenue, Valdosta, GA. DRCs are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday but closed on Sunday. 

You will need several things to apply including 1) a current phone number where you can be reached, 2) your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are staying now, 3)Your social security card or number, 4) a general list of damages and/or losses 5) Banking information for direct deposit 6) the insurance policy number or the agent and/or company name of insurance if you have any insured. 

Should you be unable to provide the required documentation FEMA will help you identify other ways for information. Those who have/had insurance are encouraged to file a claim for damage to their home, property, and vehicles before applying to FEMA. 

FEMA assistance are grants that do not have to be repaid and is nontaxable so it will not affect eligibility of Medicaid, Social Security, Disability, or other federal programs. Applying if free and it is funds paid directly to eligible households and individuals. 



Financial Housing Assistance could include rental assistance, lodging expenses reimbursement, replacement repair, and home repair. 

If you are unable to apply in person, you may visit DisasterAssistance.gov or call toll-free at 800-621-3362. You can also download and use the FEMA mobile app. If you use a relay service, video relay service, caption telephone service or others then you need to give FEMA the number for that service. 

To find the latest information on Georgia’s recovery from the hurricane you can visit fema.gov/disaster/4738.