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Emergency Information Update #3
Thursday, September 24, 2009
For the latest information concerning flooding, road closures, water purification, and all other emergency information, please go to:
http://www.DouglasCountyEMA.com
Disaster Declaration
- President Obama issued a Federal Disaster Declaration for individual assistance in Douglas County this afternoon. The declaration can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses. Low-interest loans from the Small Business Administration will also be available to cover residential and businesses losses not fully compensated by insurance.
- Residents and business owners who sustained losses can begin applying for assistance by registering on-line at www.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362.
- Douglas County and GEMA/FEMA will be setting up Disaster Recovery Centers in the eastern and western parts of the Douglas County within the next couple of days for walk-in registration and assistance applications. We will announce these locations as soon as they are confirmed.
Water
- Douglas County continues to be under a boil water advisory. The Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority has restored water to over 95% of the County at this time. The water may appear clear but is still not drinkable. Residents need to boil water until further notice since the system must be tested and approved by the State before used for human consumption.
- Until we get the all clear on the boil water, do not use ice makers. After the all clear, run it 2 or 3 times and dispose of the ice before using any ice for consumption. It is safe to take showers in the water, and you may wash clothes on the hot water setting.
Schools
- Douglas County Public Schools will be closed Friday, September 25th. The schools will be open again on Monday, September 28th, at their usual times. Power has been restored to all sites and all HVAC systems are working. Most schools sustained very limited damage. We need the support of parents, students and staff to facilitate a successful re-opening. Massive bus route changes have been necessitated by the road closures and damaged bridges. Depending on the damage to the area around their home or neighborhood, parents may need to walk their children to the nearest point accessible to a school bus. Children should anticipate a possible change in bus number, driver and route until road issues are resolved. Although call volume may be high, call 770.651.2400 for route information.
- While the County is under a boil water advisory, parents may want to send a couple of bottles of water to school with their children each day. All soap dispensers in our schools are stocked with hand sanitizer that can be used without water. Parents may also want to send a bottle of hand sanitizer for each child's personal use at school. Food service for breakfast and lunch will be fully operational when schools open. Modifications will be made on meals in compliance with the boil water advisory. For example, fresh fruit offerings will be replaced with canned fruits, fewer choices may be available, and food will be served on disposable products.
- A decision regarding make-up days will be made soon and notifications provided. The primary source of information will be the school and school system web sites. We will also use our "Notify Me" system and phone master telephone calling system to notify parents. School closure information will be provided to local and area media.
- The Lithia Springs - Alexander High Schools football game is postponed until Monday, September 28th, at 6:30 p.m. Chapel Hill - Pebblebrook High Schools football game has been rescheduled for October 2nd, at 7:30 p.m. at CHHS. Douglas County - Mays High School football game will play as scheduled Friday, September 25th, at 7:30 p.m. at Lakewood Stadium. For information on cheerleading, volleyball, softball and cross-country sports, contact the schools for the status of these events. All middle school football games have been canceled until next week.
Roads
- Motorists are reminded that roads are barricaded for a reason. It is illegal to move barricades or go around them, as well as unsafe. Even if roads and bridges appear to the motorist that they are safe, if they are barricaded, the road or bridge may be undermined and the weight of a person or an automobile may cause it to collapse. Please do not go past barricades.
- If you regularly ride GRTA, check the GRTA web site at www.XpressGa.com to see if your route is active.
- An updated list of road closures in Douglas County and the City of Douglasville are posted on the County web site at www.CelebrateDouglasCounty.com.
Bottled Water and Other Relief Supplies
- Bottled water will be distributed again tomorrow (Friday) beginning at 9:00 a.m. and continuing until water supplies are exhausted or until 4:00 p.m. at the following two locations:
- Pray's Mill Baptist Church, 4979 Georgia Highway 5 at Banks Mill Road - drive-though entering from Banks Mill Road
- Douglasville 1st United Methodist Church, 6167 Prestley Mill Road at Hospital Drive - drive-through entering from Hospital Drive.
- In addition to bottled water, a water truck with fresh/treated water will be available to residents in the parking lot of the old Cub Foods/Walmart shopping center on Stewart Parkway from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Bring your own jugs, bottles, and other containers to get the water you need. There is no charge for the water.
Assistance Events
- Many Douglas County businesses, Churches, clubs and individuals are coming to the aid of our neighbors who need assistance.
- If your business, Church, or organization is hosting a food bank, bottled water distribution, cleaning supplies distribution or anything to help victims of the flood, please register your event with the United Way of Douglas County by calling 678.623.2861. The United Way will keep a comprehensive list of these events on its web site and when people who need assistance call them, they will direct people to your event.
- If you have been affected by the flooding and need food, water, clothing and other supplies, please call 211 for the list of places that are helping out.
- Monetary donations may be made to the United Way and will be used for the Douglas County disaster relief if the donation is specifically marked as "Douglas County Flood Relief".
- The Pantry, a Douglas County food bank, 5960 Stewart Parkway at Crossroads Church, Douglasville 30135, will be assisting residents who need food and water on Saturday morning beginning at 8:00 a.m.
- Operation Blessing/Warehouse of Hope, 100 Hunter Road, Douglasville, 770.489.0509, is serving food and distributing disaster relief supplies Friday 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Douglasville Church of Christ, 4691 Big B Road, Douglasville, 770.942.3831, is distributing bottled water, food boxes, personal hygiene items, baby needs and cleaning supplies Friday from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Saturday.
- The Church at Mirror Lake, 501 Permian Way off Conners Road, Mirror Lake/Villa Rica, 770.459.8653, will be distributing clothes to flood victims Saturday from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Lowe's Home Improvement Center, 7001 Douglas Boulevard, Douglasville, 770.920.9022, will be distributing free starter clean-up kits that include DampRid, trash bags, hand sanitizer, scrub brushers and rubber gloves Saturday from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- A Gift of Love, 3870 Longview Drive, Douglasville, 770.617.0718, will be distributing clothing, shoes, towels, linens, kitchen needs, etc., Friday from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Faith in Action, 770.833.7236, gafaithinaction@aol.com, will pickup donations and deliver furniture and appliances in working order.
- All of these events will accept donations of goods, food, water and money.
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