Current list of road closures

Debris Removal *Updated 10/08

Low interest disaster loans from the SBA
Information and Online Application

Flood damaged property permitting
Current status updated daily

Flood Damaged Property Assessments
To request assesment of a home or business for property repairs please call Storm Water Management 770-419-6435.


Residents May Call FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA to Apply for Assistance

Latest Updates From FEMA:
Georgians Get Free Advice On Weathering The Next Storm Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:19:03 -0500
FEMA Grants Help Make Flooded Georgia Homes Livable Fri, 09 Oct 2009 09:56:20 -0500
Just A Few Days Left To Register For Assistance Fri, 09 Oct 2009 09:58:07 -0500

Volunteer Information:
Groups wanting to volunteer and assist with recovery efforts are asked to contact Cobb’s Emergency Management Agency to register their efforts. This can be accomplished by calling 770-499-4565.

More information on how you can help your neighbors:
Center For Family Resources



Latest Updates:

NRCS Press Release - Sponsor meetings for the Emergency Watershed Management Program

Small Business Administration Assistance

The U.S. Small Business Administration announces today that the Disaster Loan Outreach Center located in Paulding County, Georgia will cease operations Friday, October 30 at the close of business.

The Small Business Administration urges those affected by the severe storms and flooding that occurred September 18, through October 8, 2009, to visit the Centers before the closing to obtain one-on-one assistance and information about the disaster assistance program. The SBA also encourages homeowners, renters, businesses and non-profit organizations who received applications to return their completed applications prior to the November 23 deadline.

The Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOCs) are located at:
Cobb County - The Threadmill
5000 Austell/Powder Springs Rd.
Suite 120
Austell GA 30106
Open: Mon-Fri; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Business Recovery Centers are located at:
Cobb County - Powder Springs Library
4181 Atlanta Street – Building 1
Powder Springs GA 30127
Open: Mon-Fri; 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Anyone unable to visit one of the Centers may obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the hearing impaired), Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. EDT, or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

Business loan applications can also be downloaded from the SBA Web site at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Completed applications should be returned to one of the Centers or mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX. 76155.

Those affected by the disaster may apply for disaster loans from SBA’s secure Web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is November 23 2009. The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 24, 2010.

Displaced Georgians Can Locate Rental Housing On-line
Property Owners Urged to List Rentals On-line to Help Flood Survivors

ATLANTA - The Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) are encouraging displaced survivors of the recent floods to use www.GeorgiaHousingSearch.org to find available rental housing. This easy-to-use web site lists immediately available rental properties. People can search by location, price range and housing description, including number of bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as by a host of other amenities.

“In the aftermath of the recent floods, Georgians can use this valuable tool to rebuild their lives and find temporary housing,” said Director Charley English of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA).

The site is operated by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA), in partnership with United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta.

Property owners in Georgia who have an apartment or house for rent can list their available properties on the site at no cost. Information needed includes the city, county or zip code where the property is located, price range for rent, and the number of bedrooms and bathrooms.

Residents in Bartow, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, Gwinnett, Heard, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, Stephens and Walker are eligible for disaster housing assistance and may receive federal financial assistance that can be used for renting another place to live while they repair their home or find more permanent housing. People can apply for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers operate from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00p.m. Monday through Sunday.

To be eligible to receive FEMA assistance as a result of the September severe weather and floods, applicants must have storm/disaster-related damages not covered by insurance. Residents affected by the disaster should contact their insurance providers before calling FEMA.

Sweetwater Valley C.A.M.P. to serve as central assistance location for flood victims

Sweetwater Valley C.A.M.P. located at 6289 Veterans Memorial Highway in Austell has been designated as a central location for flood assistance from community organizations. Starting Monday, Oct. 5, flood victims can be seen Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Case managers from Sweetwater Valley C.A.M.P. and local agencies including Center for Family Resources, MUST Ministries and Salvation Army will be present to provide resources including financial assistance, temporary housing assistance, food, clothing, diapers, hygiene items, school supplies and water. Contact Sweetwater Valley C.A.M.P at 770-819-0662 or www.svcamp.org.

“Case managers will work one-on-one with families to identify unmet needs, intermediate and long-term needs,” said Darlene Duke, executive director of Sweetwater Valley C.A.M.P. “We have to be there for the long haul. We are very grateful to all the agencies supporting us and rallying behind us to make this happen.”

Donation items are needed to support the relief effort including cash donations; basic food staples; gift cards to Walmart, Kmart, Target, etc; hygiene items, diapers and cleaning supplies. Donations of furniture should be given to the Atlanta Furniture Bank. They can be reached via the web at www.furniturebankatlanta.org. You can also call David DiCaprio at 404-355-8530, ext. 222.

Cash donations clearly marked with ‘FLOOD’ can be made to community partners: Sweetwater Valley C.A.M.P., Cobb Disaster Recovery, Center for Family Resources, MUST Ministries and United Way of Cobb County.

Current volunteer needs include sorting clothes and food, crowd control, administrative tasks, mudding and construction repair. Non-construction volunteers should contact Jenaila Hawkins at MUST Ministries at jhawkins@mustministries.org or 770-790-3873. Skilled volunteers looking to provide construction, plumbing or carpentry expertise should contact Gene DeWulf, Cobb Disaster Recovery at gdewulf@uwma.org or 404-589-9438.




Storm Debris Pick up Information

Cobb County's Department of Transportation will coordinate pick up of flood debris from properties in unincorporated Cobb County.

As of October 8, Cobb DOT will no longer provide dumpsters for flood-related debris however, should you have any flood related debris, please place on the right-of-way and contact Cobb DOT work order desk at 770-528-3666. DOT will schedule a pickup of the debris from properties in unincorporated Cobb County.

The cut-off for such requests will be October 20. Cobb County will pick up debris from the right-of-way until October 26.

Flood-related debris requests should be directed to 770-528-3666.

Cobb County Solid Waste

Public Safety
Cobb Fire Department is stressing that people and motorists should avoid entering flooded areas due to risk of injury.

Disaster safety and important information (Cobb & Douglas Public Health)
What to do after a flood (F.E.M.A.)
Recovering from and coping with flood damaged property (F.E.M.A.)
Field guide for clean up of flood damaged homes (created by three national housing organizations)

Emergency Management Agency
The Emergency Management Agency conducted an aerial damage assessment and has been on the ground in affected areas.  Initial estimates indicate more than 600 homes and 75 businesses with extensive flooding damage. A complete assessment is expected to take several weeks. Homeowners and other property owners that have experienced damage to the physical structure of their homes or businesses should report this to the county’s EMA at 770-499-4566 or by emailing ema@cobbcounty.org

Transportation/Roads
Cobb County currently has several roads closed. Crews are in the process of inspecting bridges and roadways as water levels continue to decline. Repairs are now underway and progress is being made with many roads expected to be operational over the next several days. The county is utilizing staff and private contractors to expedite repairs.

There may be CCT service delays. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Complete listing of current road closures

Community Development
Guidelines to restore electrical power to a structure after flooding
Notice of Potential Flood Hazards

Water System
Cobb’s water supply is safe to drink and does not require boiling prior to consumption. We have received some reports of slight water discoloration. Floodwaters have high levels of manganese and the Cobb Marietta Water Authority is working to address the issue. This water is fine to drink and the issue is being primarily reported in the east Cobb area. County crews have been able to restore water service to all but just a few customers and are working to accomplish this task.

Schools
Cobb District and City of Marietta Schools are open.
Cobb County School District   Marietta City Schools

Presidential Disaster Declaration for Georgia Issued

Residents May Call FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA to Apply for Assistance

 ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue today announced that President Obama has issued a Federal Disaster Declaration for individual assistance to aid residents of Cobb, Paulding, Douglas and Cherokee counties with recovery efforts in the wake of flooding that hit Georgia earlier this week. The portion of Governor Perdue’s request covering other counties and aid to governments that sustained damage to buildings and public costs due to the storms is still pending.

“The recovery is just now beginning,” said Governor Perdue. “We have a great deal of work to do and I appreciate President Obama’s approval of the disaster declaration. We will continue to work closely with FEMA as damage assessments continue and further assistance becomes available.”

The federal declaration covers individual assistance and can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses. Low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration will also be available to cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance.

The Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) is coordinating the state's response effort. “We are coordinating the recovery effort with our local, state, federal and volunteer partners,” said GEMA Director Charley English. “Damage assessment teams are continuing to work with local authorities in all affected areas of the state to assess losses.”

Governor Perdue declared a state of emergency in 17 Georgia counties on Monday. The state of emergency cleared the way for the massive deployment of state personnel and equipment and paved the way for the Presidential Declaration. The Governor announced the federal declaration request on Tuesday after an aerial tour of the damaged areas.

Residents and business owners in the four counties declared by the President as a major disaster area who sustained losses can begin applying for assistance by registering online at http://www.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (local time) Monday through Sunday.

GEMA is the lead state agency for coordination of emergency and disaster response activities. For more emergency information and updates, visit www.gema.ga.gov .