Raphael G. Warnock
10/04/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/04/2024 16:40
ICYMI: Senator Reverend Warnock Joins President Biden in Ray City to Survey Hurricane Helene Damage, Continues Push for Disaster Declaration in All Impacted GA Counties
On Thursday, Senator Reverend Warnock accompanied President Biden to survey agricultural damage from Hurricane Helene at an impacted pecan farm in Ray City
Senator Reverend Warnock and his office have been working around the clock to marshal federal recovery resources to Georgia, including pushing senior Biden Administration officials to swiftly approve additional major disaster assistance for all of Georgia's impacted 93 counties
During his visit, President Biden credited Senator Warnock for helping secure a wavier ensuring the federal government will shoulder 100% of debris removal and emergency protective measures costs in Georgia-WATCH VIDEO HERE
In Ray City, Senator Reverend Warnock pressed President Biden directly to approve Georgia's remaining counties under the federal major disaster declaration without additional delay
Left: Senator Warnock greeting President Biden at Moody Air Force base in Valdosta, GA
Right: Senator Warnock delivering food for those impacted by the Hurricane in Valdosta
Washington, D.C. - On Thursday, October 3, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) joined President Biden in rural South Georgia to survey agricultural damage caused by Hurricane Helene and pledged his continued support to marshal federal resources and other assistance to Georgians in need.
The Senator and President Biden visited Shiloh Pecan Farm in Ray City, where they received a briefing from pecan farmer Buck Paulk on the extent of storm damage on his and other farms in the area and the urgency of providing additional disaster relief to mitigate the economic impacts of Hurricane Helene on the state's agriculture industry. During his remarks in Ray City following the tour, President Biden publicly credited Senator Warnock for his work to help secure a waiver ensuring the federal government will cover 100% of the costs associated with debris removal and standing up emergency protective measures in Georgia's impacted areas.
"Yesterday, I approved Governor Kemp's request for the federal government to cover 100 percent of the cost for debris removal and emergency protective measures for three months, 100 percent. I must tell you, your Senator [Warnock] had a little bit to do with that when he called me," said President Biden.
While in South Georgia, Senator Warnock also pushed President Biden on the urgent need to approve the remainder of Georgia's 93 impacted counties under the President's federal major disaster declaration issued September 30, unlocking additional critical federal recovery resources and assistance. To date the Administration has only approved 41 of the 93 counties the state requested for individual and public disaster assistance, prompting Senator Warnock this week to press senior FEMA, White House officials, and President Biden directly to approve Georgia's remaining impacted counties under the major disaster declaration without additional delay. Following Senator Warnock's pushes, President Biden and Administration leaders have stated federal officials are actively working to quickly approve assistance for all of Georgia's counties impacted by the storm.
President Biden and Senator Warnock during the press conference in Ray City, GA
Senator Warnock and his office have been active in Georgia's Hurricane Helene response efforts from the beginning, visiting Augusta on September 30 to deliver needed supplies and survey storm damage; making frequent contact with elected officials, hospital leaders, and other community leaders to address urgent needs and provide support; launching a new web clearinghouse of Federal and state hurricane recovery assistance and resources across the state; and advocating for swift congressional approval of additional federal disaster relief for impacted families and communities, especially Georgia's farmers.
Senator Warnock and Brooks County Commissioner James Maxwell
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