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Has Helene made you powerless? How to get up to $750 from FEMA

TO SAY YOU ARE GRATEFUL – TO BE ALIVE./// Chances are…IF YOU ARE SOMEONE WHO LOSES STRENGTH ON DAYS…YOU CAN THROW AWAY EXPENSIVE FOOD. WJCL 22 NEWS' AJSISSON TELLS US…MAYBE YOU CAN GET PART OF THE MONEY BACK./// PKG NATSOT “THE BIGGEST QUESTION, WHAT DO I NEED TO DO? WE HAVE NO POWER SUPPLY TIME FOR THIS AMOUNT.” VO, WHEN IN SOUTHEAST GEORGIA THE LIGHTS ARE ON AGAIN… ALSO THE REFRIGERATORS… SOT “IT'S BETTER TO BE SAFE AND DISPOSE OF THESE PRODUCTS.” VO THE FIRST, WHAT TO DO: DISCARD ALL REFRIGERATED FOOD… THAT HAS A “KEEP REFRIGERATED” LABEL – IF IT HAS BEEN IN A POWERLESS REFRIGERATOR FOR FOUR OR MORE HOURS THINGS ARE IN THERE… SHOULD BE THROWN IN THE TRASH… So “jugs of water or water bottles” and freeze these things beforehand and put them in the fridge FREEZER, AND THEN THE TIME CAN EXTEND STANDUP “Chances are good that your Power comes back on and you have to go into your freezer and throw away maybe hundreds of dollars worth of food. Now there are FEMA assistance programs you can take advantage of.” SOT “THE STATE OF GEORGIA HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR A MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATION IT ALLOWS RESIDENTS AFFECTED BY THE STORM TO APPLY FOR HELP.” FSG AND YOU CAN APPLY IN ONE OF THREE WAYS… YOU CAN CALL 1-800-621-3362… DOWNLOAD THE FEMA APP DOWNLOAD YOUR PHONE… OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WJCL DOT COM… FOR A LINK TO FEMA'S WEBSITE… SOT “THERE IS A PART OF THE AID THAT WE CALL SERIOUS NEEDS AND SO $750 SO GET IN THE HANDS OF RESIDENTS ASAP.” VO AND THAT $750… APPLIES TO FOOD LOSS… AND CAN BE USED TO PROVIDE THOSE FOOD… PERSONAL HYGIENE ITEMS… OR NECESSITIES FOR YOUR FAMILY.. .IN SAVANNAH…AJS…W2

Did Helene leave you without power? Here's how to get up to $750 for groceries

FEMA approved $10 million in relief funding for the state of Georgia to help survivors recover faster.

Did Helene make you powerless for a long period of time? On Wednesday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced a $10 million grant for storm survivors across the Southeast and up to $750 for your wasted food. You can apply for FEMA assistance in three ways: Visit disasterassistance.gov. Call 1-800. 621-3362. Download the FEMA app and apply. “The biggest question is, 'What do I need to do?'” said Lauren Baker Newton, environmental health manager for the Chatham County Health Department. “It's better to be safe than sorry and throw these products away.” According to Health Ministry guidelines, any refrigerated food marked “Keep in refrigerator” should be thrown away if it has been in an unpowered refrigerator for more than four hours. As for the freezer, anything stored without power for more than 48 hours should be thrown away. “Jugs of water, bottles of water, and freezing these things beforehand and storing them in your fridge and freezer can help extend the time,” Newton said. TRENDING STORIESDid Helene leave you without power? How to get up to $750 on groceriesKirk is now a major hurricane, plus an update on possible tropical development in the Gulf of Mexico 'God is with me': Bluffton church group recounts harrowing escape from Hurricane HeleneBut it's always better, to be on the safe side “The cost of throwing these things away will be much less than potentially contracting a foodborne illness,” Newton said. “That could be hospital visits, hospital bills and/or doctor visits, and just the time you need to recover in order to apply for assistance,” said Michael Hart, a spokesman for FEMA. There are no minimum income requirements to apply for support. Also, be sure to document as much as possible, not only for FEMA assistance but also for potential insurance claims. “Any damage to their property, their home, etc., and they should also contact their insurance company,” Hart said. “If they have flood insurance, get that process going and then contact FEMA immediately .” If approved, the $750 voucher can be used to replace your lost groceries, purchase personal hygiene items or necessities for your family.

SAVANNAH, Ga. –

Did Helene make you powerless for a long period of time? On Wednesday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced a $10 million grant for storm survivors across the Southeast and up to $750 for your wasted food.

You can apply for FEMA assistance in three ways:

“The biggest question is, 'What do I need to do?'” said Lauren Baker Newton, environmental health manager for the Chatham County Health Department. “It’s better to be safe than sorry and throw these products away.”

According to Health Ministry guidelines, any refrigerated food marked “Keep in Refrigerator” should be thrown away if it has been in an unpowered refrigerator for more than four hours. As for the freezer, you should throw away anything that has been stored without power for more than 48 hours.

“Jugs of water, water bottles and freezing these things in advance and storing them in your fridge and freezer can help extend the time,” Newton said.

TRENDING STORIES

However, it is always better to be safe than sorry.

“The cost of throwing these things away will be much less than potentially contracting a foodborne illness,” Newton said. “These could include hospital visits, hospital bills and/or doctor visits, and this is exactly how long it will take for you to recover.”

“The state of Georgia has been approved for a major disaster declaration, allowing residents affected by the storm to apply for assistance,” said Michael Hart, a FEMA spokesman.

There are no minimum income requirements to apply for assistance. Also, be sure to document as much as possible, not only for FEMA assistance but also for possible insurance claims.

“Any damage to their property, their home, etc., and they should also contact their insurance company,” Hart said. “If they have flood insurance, get that process started and then contact FEMA immediately.”

If approved, the $750 voucher can be used to replace your lost groceries, purchase personal hygiene items or necessities for your family.

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