The U.S. Department of Labor has announced an initial $800,000 emergency grant to support Georgia's cleanup and recovery efforts in 33 counties following Hurricane Debby. The funding will also facilitate employment and training services for residents in the affected areas.
Hurricane Debby made landfall on August 5, 2024, as a Category 1 storm near Steinhatchee, Florida, before moving through southeastern Georgia as a tropical storm. The hurricane caused extensive infrastructure damage in Georgia, blocking and collapsing roads, destroying public facilities, and restricting access to local businesses.
Following the disaster, the Federal Emergency Management Agency issued an emergency declaration that enabled Georgia to request federal assistance for recovery efforts in Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Candler, Chatham, Colquitt, Decatur, Dodge, Echols, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Glynn, Grady, Jeff Davis, Johnson, Laurens, Liberty, Long McIntosh Mitchell Montgomery Screven Tattnall Telfair Thomas Tift Toombs Treutlen Wayne Wheeler Wilcox Worth counties.
Administered by the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA), this National Dislocated Worker Grant—potentially amounting up to $1.5 million—allows the Technical College System of Georgia to offer temporary cleanup and recovery jobs. Additionally it provides training and employment services to those impacted by the storm.
Dislocated Worker Grants are supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014. These grants temporarily expand service capacity for dislocated worker programs at state and local levels by providing financial assistance in response to significant economic events leading to substantial job losses.
