Georgia Chamber Asks Congressional Delegation to Continue Supporting Hurricane Helene Recovery  

(ATLANTA) – As part of ongoing work supporting Georgia’s Hurricane Helene recovery, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce sent a letter to the Georgia congressional delegation requesting continued federal support for disaster-stricken parts of Georgia. In the letter, the Georgia Chamber highlighted four critical actions the congressional delegation could take to ensure the resilience and prosperity of Georgia’s economy and its communities.  

The letter reads in part:  

While we’ve made significant strides in our recovery efforts, there is still much to be done. To ensure the resilience and prosperity of our state’s economy and its communities, we respectfully request your continued support in the following key areas:  

1. Expanded Disaster Relief for Georgia’s Agricultural, Shrimping, and Forestry Industries: 

Georgia’s agricultural sector, particularly our farmers, shrimpers, and foresters, have faced unprecedented losses as a result of Hurricane Helene. We urge Congress to expand relief measures to ensure these essential industries have the financial support they need to rebuild, replant, and restock. A tailored package of assistance for our farmers is crucial to restoring the bedrock of Georgia’s economy.  

2. Small Business Relief through Forgivable Loans via the SBA:   

Following the successful model of the CARES Act, we request that small businesses and non-profits in the impacted areas have access to forgivable loans through the Small Business Administration (SBA). These organizations are the lifeblood of our communities, and further financial relief will allow them to continue their operations, retain employees, and contribute to our local economies.  

3. Reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP):    

With increased frequency and severity of natural disasters, the National Flood Insurance Program is more vital than ever. We urge you to prioritize the reauthorization of this essential program to protect homeowners, businesses, and critical infrastructure from future flooding events, ensuring affordable coverage for all Georgians.  

4. Disaster Declarations for All Impacted Counties:   

Many of Georgia’s counties were severely impacted by Hurricane Helene, yet many still await formal disaster declarations. We ask for your advocacy with the Administration to secure these declarations for all affected counties, ensuring that federal resources and support are swiftly made available to those who need them most. 

Click here to read the letter in full.  

Immediately following Hurricane Helene, the Georgia Chamber launched a website with information on relief services available across Georgia. The website can be found by clicking here.  

Also, the Georgia Chamber conducted a series of disaster relief briefings with some of Georgia’s top elected officials and utility companies on their work to Georgians safe after Helene. The briefings can be viewed by clicking here.   

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