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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 23, 2024
CONTACT:
Office of Communications
GEMA/HS Launches Temporary Sheltering Program for Hurricane Helene Survivors in Savannah
SAVANNAH – The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) has launched the Housing Emergency Assistance and Recovery Through Sheltering (HEARTS) Georgia program to support survivors of Hurricane Helene.
Residents of Savannah and Chatham County are among 61 Georgia counties that will benefit from HEARTS Georgia.
The state-run, first-of-its- kind, program will provide non-congregate shelter in hotels or motels to eligible survivors whose primary residence was majorly damaged, destroyed, or deemed uninhabitable in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
The program, expected to last up to six months, focuses on helping survivors transition into long-term housing solutions and supplement the immediate efforts undertaken in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
To be eligible for the HEARTS Georgia program, survivors must:
- Be registered with FEMA
- Be seeking shelter in their eligible county
- Have a home that is majority damaged, destroyed, or not habitable
- Agree to the program terms
To apply, affected residents may visit gema.georgia.gov/hearts-georgia. For additional assistance, impacted residents may call 833-575-4411 or email GEMA/HS’s Community Recovery Department at community.recovery@gema.ga.gov
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