ATLANTA, GA – May 6, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — To help people displaced by the recent tornadoes find rental housing, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) are encouraging displaced survivors to use www.GeorgiaHousingSearch.org.
This easy-to-use website allows users to search available rentals by location, price range and description, such as number of bedrooms and bathrooms.
“In the aftermath of the recent tornadoes, Georgians can use this valuable tool to rebuild their lives and find temporary housing,” said GEMA Director Charley English.
Property owners in Georgia who have an apartment or house for rent also can list their available properties on the site at no cost. Information needed includes the city, county or ZIP code, price range for rent, and the number of bedrooms and bathrooms.
Storm survivors in Bartow, Catoosa, Cherokee, Coweta, Dade, Greene, Habersham, Harris, Heard, Floyd, Gordon, Lamar, Lumpkin, Meriwether, Monroe, Morgan, Newton, Pickens, Polk, Rabun, Spalding, Troup, Upson, Walker and White counties may be eligible for federal disaster assistance. Assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may include financial help to rent a place to live while they repair their home or find more permanent housing.
“We ask that people register with FEMA as soon as possible,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Gracia B. Szczech. “The process takes 15 to 30 minutes and is an important step on the road to recovery. Don’t wait to register.”
FEMA offers several registration options:
- Register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov; or,
- Call 800-621-FEMA (3362). Those with hearing or speech impairment can use TTY 800-462-7585. Operators speak many languages, and the lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; or,
- Connect through a Web-enabled mobile devices or smartphone at m.fema.gov.
To be eligible for FEMA assistance as a result of the April 27-28 storms and tornadoes, applicants must have disaster-related damages not covered by insurance. Residents affected by the disaster should contact their insurance providers before registering with FEMA.
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
