TROUP COUNTY, Ga. — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has denied a request from local and state officials to have a federal disaster declared over the March storms in Troup County, which included an EF-3 tornado.
Such a declaration would have brought more resources to the county, but officials said in a release that "despite tireless efforts" to obtain a declaration, the government denied their request.
"FEMA determined that the damage from these events did not meet the threshold to go beyond the capabilities of the state, local governments, and voluntary agencies," Troup County said in a release.
Though it's been three months since the tornado, Troup County and the people of West Point are still trying to rebuild. FEMA's announcement just adds more disappointment after an already heartbreaking situation.
Robin Burton and her home are surrounded by desolation. She said she is missing her neighbors who survived, but whose homes were demolished in the tornado and have had to move away.
"You know, I'm used to seeing people walking along the way," Burton said from her West Point home. "You don't see nobody now and it's just sad."
Troup County Deputy Fire Chief and EMA Director Zac Steele said in a statement that the county "exhausted all available resources in trying to assist (Georgia Emergency Management Agency) in preparing this request."
The county was counting on potentially millions of dollars to help recovery.
"Obviously, we're extremely disappointed that the declaration didn't go through," Steel said.
The County Manager, Eric Mosley, said that the county has dipped into reserves for hundreds of thousands of dollars, so far, to assist with recovery efforts. And Mosely said that Troup County still has two bridges that are out, and it will cost more than $10 million to repair or replace them.
For now, the county is putting off other necessary projects to make sure residents get back to some semblance of normal.
"Some people lost everything they had and we're doing what we can to try to help them," Steele said. "Stand assured, the county's going to do everything we can to find additional resources or anything out there to keep serving our citizens."
The tornado tracked roughly 20 miles, the National Weather Service said in March, and devastated the city of West Point.
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In April, 11Alive reported that West Point saw roughly 80-100 homes with damage and 20-30 that had either "major damage" or were considered "destroyed."
Troup County is also recovering from tornados in January and February. The fiscal year ends next week with county leaders planning to report the total costs of the storm damage and recovery, so far.
11Alive reached out to the governor's office in Troup County regarding the issue, and it responded Thursday:
“After extensive efforts urging FEMA to issue a major disaster declaration for Troup County following the damaging storms in March, we’re now working with the Small Business Administration to begin the process of aiding employers affected by the severe weather through disaster assistance loans as they continue to rebuild and recover.”
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