Two Years After Hurricane Helene, Warnock Marks $2.2 Billion Secured for Georgia’s Recovery

Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock has secured over $2.2 billion in federal disaster relief for Georgia communities still dealing with the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene Last year, Senator Warnock released a report that found the Trump administration was shortchanging Georgia communities by more than half a billion dollars in disaster relief Two years ago, in September 2024, Hurricane Helene killed 37 Georgians and caused billions of dollars in damages across South and East Georgia Today, Senator Reverend Warnock held a press call highlighting his efforts to secure federal recovery funds Senator Reverend Warnock: “I will continue to push FEMA and this administration to make sure Georgians receive every cent that they are owed and so desperately need, and I will continue to call out the Trump administration for shortchanging Georgians.” Washington, D.C. –  In the two years since Hurricane Helene made landfall, Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) has secured more than $2.2 billion in federal disaster relief for Georgia communities still recovering from the storm. The funding is helping communities rebuild after the hurricane that killed 37 Georgians and caused billions of dollars in damages across South and East Georgia. “I have continued to push this administration to deliver the relief Georgians need and deserve,” Senator Reverend Warnock said. “I remain concerned about how long it takes for communities to receive federal relief after natural disasters strike. It took way too long—and far too much pressure from my office—to get this administration to act and begin releasing funds.” One year after Hurricane Helene made landfall, Senator Warnock released a report finding that the Trump administration owed Georgians $600 million in promised recovery aid, along with a statement calling attention to the delayed funding. Following Senator Warnock’s pressure, federal funding has again begun flowing to Georgia counties and entities impacted by Hurricane Helene. Working closely with state and local leaders, including the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, Senator Warnock has pushed to unlock additional federal disaster funding by building bipartisan support for the expedited release of federal funds and repeatedly pressing Trump administration officials to distribute the funding. In December 2025, Senator Warnock announced he had secured $314 million in federal funding for outstanding payments owed to Georgia counties and entities in the wake of Hurricane Helene. The funding, part of a disaster recovery bill championed by Senator Warnock in 2024, is meant to reimburse local communities for funds spent on recovery. Most recently, Senator Warnock announced a tranche of funding that brought the total federal disaster funding secured by Senator Warnock to well over one billion dollars, including $87 million in previously outstanding funds for Georgians. ###