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Appling County reports road damage from Hurricane Idalia, added to Major Disaster Declaration
Summary
County leaders said Hurricane Idalia left dozens of roads damaged; road crews cleared most routes and Appling County was added to a Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance, enabling federal aid for repairs and mitigation.
Appling County officials reported on Sept. 12 that Hurricane Idalia caused significant road damage, credited county crews with extensive response work and confirmed the county’s inclusion in a federal disaster declaration.
County Manager Al Meadows said the county and city declared local states of emergency on Aug. 30 in response to Hurricane Idalia. He told the board that 28 dirt roads suffered significant damage, Road Department crews worked through the Labor Day weekend, and by Sept. 7 all roads were open. Meadows said FEMA and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) assessed the county’s damage on Sept. 6 and that on Sept. 11 "Appling County had been added to the list of 24 counties in South Georgia" included in a Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance.
Road Superintendent Brooks Johnson reported that "88 roads were impassable at some point, some closed temporarily and others up to several days" and praised crews for working continuously during the response. Sheriff’s Chief Gene Davis also thanked county employees: "the county folks stepped-up," he said, adding the Road Department staff "worked their butt off." The board expressed public appreciation for the response work.
Officials said crews are continuing damage assessments to identify weaknesses and mitigation steps. No formal policy decisions were made on repair funding during the Sept. 12 meeting; the Major Disaster Declaration is expected to make federal Public Assistance funds available to help cover repair and mitigation costs.
