In the wake of the destructive winter storm Feb. 10-14, Gov. Nathan Deal today submitted a request to President Obama for federal disaster relief for the 48 counties where the combined damage estimates exceed $43 million. 

“The storm brought destructive levels of ice that far exceeded anything we’ve seen in decades, and state and local agencies had to mobilize significant resources to protect lives and property and get Georgia back to normal as quickly as possible,” Deal said. “The costs associated with this storm far exceed the federal threshold for a disaster declaration. These are significant expenses for the state, and a declaration by the president will allow us to recoup 75 percent of the eligible costs with federal assistance. We greatly appreciate the cooperation we’ve received from FEMA in this response effort.”

The 48 counties are: Baldwin, Bartow, Bulloch, Burke, Butts, Candler, Carroll, Cherokee, Cobb, Columbia, Coweta, Dade, Dawson, DeKalb, Emanuel, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gilmer, Glascock, Hancock, Haralson, Heard, Jasper, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Jones, Lamar, McDuffie, Meriwether, Monroe, Morgan, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Pike, Polk, Richmond, Screven, Spalding, Upson, Walker, Warren, Washington, White, Whitfield and Wilkes.