COFFEE COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) - FEMA hosted their Housing Resource Fair on March 8, stepping in to help residents still seeking assistance to find long-term disaster relief.

Federal, state, and local agencies gathered under one roof to offer services and resources to those who are still recovering from Hurricane Helene.

There are still trees on top of homes, debris left in the roads and residents are still displaced. FEMA said they are doing everything they can to provide Coffee County residents with homes that are safe, sanitary and functional.

FEMA media relations specialist, James Wood, said, “The most important thing to understand is that recovery is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. FEMA is just one small piece of the bigger picture. However, it’s a team effort — a collaborative effort.”

FEMA representatives said they are providing affordable, temporary housing to eligible disaster survivors while recovery efforts continue.

“I’m trying to do the best I can to survive right now,” said Kristian High, who lives in Douglas. “I lost my mom two months ago, and there’s just a lot on me. So, I just need a place to stay.”

Many residents were left feeling unheard until now.

Olanda Dozier used to live in Douglas. She said, “It’s so hard to get help. It’s really hard. And I have been trying. I have just been calling everyone, filling out all these papers, but still nothing.”

FEMA representatives said the process is now a lot easier, providing solutions to their problems.

“They helped me a lot, they did,” said Taylor White, another Douglas resident. “They helped me a whole lot. If y’all want to, you can come out. If you don’t understand what you’re doing, they will help you.”

If you are unable to attend one of FEMA’s housing resource fairs, you can still meet with FEMA face-to-face at one of the small business recovery centers across Georgia. They have locations in Lowndes and Coffee County.

These recovery centers are available to homeowners, renters, business owners and non-profit organizations alike to get the disaster recovery support they need.

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