Here is the text of the Governor's Request.

STATE OF GEORGIA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
ATLANTA 30334-0900

GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY REQUEST

September 22, 2009

The Honorable Barack H. Obama
The President
The White House
Washington, D. C. 20500

Through: Major Phillip May
Regional Administrator
FEMA Region IV
3003 Chamblee Tucker Road
Atlanta, Georgia 30341
Dear Mr. President:

Under the provisions of Section 501 (a) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5121-5207 (Stafford Act), and implemented by 44 CFR § 206.35, I request that you declare an emergency for the State of Georgia as a result of severe storms, record rains, and massive flooding beginning on September 18, 2009 and continuing.

Numerous Georgia creeks and rivers, swollen by days of rain, have overtopped their banks, and at least six people have lost their lives to the flood waters. Several county water systems have been compromised, and there is extreme difficulty in obtaining potable water for hospitals, correctional facilities, and several thousand private residences and businesses. Thousands of Georgians are without power, numerous school systems have been forced to close, hundreds of citizens have been evacuated, and over one thousand residences are estimated to be seriously flooded as indicated by aerial surveillance and 911 calls for help. In addition to the present serious situation, the National Weather Service has indicated that the rains will continue for several more days. This emergency comes on the heels of a major flood disaster declaration this spring in south Georgia, which greatly depleted the state's ability to adequately respond.

Currently, over 300 people are in shelters, with additional persons expected as the flood waters expand. The numbers of homes affected can only be estimated at this point due to the inaccessibility to the impacted areas from the still rising waters. Over 30,000 residences in the metropolitan area are without power. Dozens of state and local roads are closed over the affected region with no estimate of when they may be reopened, causing delays in emergency response and cutting off communities from essential services.

In response to the situation I have taken appropriate actions under State law and directed the activation of the State Emergency Operations Plan on September 21, 2009, in accordance with Section 501(a) of the Stafford Act. I have declared a State of Emergency on September 21, 2009, for the seventeen Georgia counties, listed below:
Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Crawford, DeKalb, Douglas, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, Stephens, and Walker Counties.

Pursuant to 44 CFR § 206.35, I have determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and the affected local governments, and that supplementary Federal assistance is necessary to save lives and to protect property, public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a disaster. I am specifically requesting Public Assistance Categories A and B, direct Federal Assistance, and Individual Assistance, including the Individual and Households Program (IHP), for Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Crawford, DeKalb, Douglas, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, Stephens and Walker Counties. I also request the Small Business Administration (SBA) low interest loan program.

Preliminary estimates of the types and amount of emergency assistance needed under the Stafford Act, and emergency assistance from certain Federal agencies under other statutory authorities, are tabulated in Enclosure A.
The following information is furnished on the nature and amount of State and local resources that have been or will be used to alleviate the conditions of this emergency:

ESF 1-Transportation
? Providing personnel and equipment for numerous road closures.
? Conducting emergency bridge inspections.

ESF 4 -Firefighting
? Assembling water tanker strike teams for structural fire support.
? Dispatching potable water tankers to Douglas County Hospital, and several county water systems.

ESF 6-Mass Care, Housing and Human Services
? Five shelters are open with a current population of approximately 300 people.
? Dozens more placed in motels.

ESF 7-Resource Support & Logistics Management
? Delivered 1,000 sandbags to Rockdale County.
? Providing 1,000 sandbags for Rabun County.
? Facilitated transportation of 100 road closure signs from South Georgia to Metro Atlanta.

ESF 9-Search and Rescue
?Establishing Area Command for CobblPauldingIDouglas for severe flooding.
?Dispatching numerous boats wI personnel, and canine units for active water rescues.
?Several counties providing mutual aid for rescue activities.

ESF 11 -Agriculture
? Identifying animal shelters and any special requirements.
? Assisting with large animal evacuations in metro counties.

ESF 13-Public Safety & Security
? Have responded to numerous requests for assistance with road closures on state and local roads.
? Providing supplemental law enforcement for traffic control.
? Providing air assets for rescue and damage assessment.
? The Georgia National Guard is assisting with high water vehicles and potable water buffalos.

ESF 15-External Affairs
? Providing flood related public information and opening Joint Information Center.
? Responded to scores of requests from media, elected officials and the public as to the state of the emergency.

The following information is furnished on efforts and resources of other Federal agencies, which have been or will be used in responding to this incident:

? The Unites States Army Corps of Engineers are inspecting dams and levees.

The State of Georgia has a federally approved enhanced state mitigation plan. The most recent update to the plan was approved by FEMA on November 26, 2008.

I certify that for this emergency, the State and local governments will assume all applicable non-Federal share of costs required by the Stafford Act.

I request direct Federal assistance for work and services to save lives and protect property.

In accordance with 44 CFR § 206.208, the State of Georgia agrees that it will, with respect to direct Federal assistance:
1. Provide without cost to the United States all lands, easement, and rights-of-way necessary to accomplish the approved work.

2. Hold and save the United States free from damages due to the requested work, and shall indemnify the Federal Government against any claims arising from such work;

3.Provide reimbursement to FEMA for the non-Federal share of the cost of such work in accordance with the provisions of the FEMA-State Agreement; and

4. Assist the perfonning Federal agency in all support and local jurisdictional matters.

In addition, I anticipate the need for debris removal, which poses an immediate threat to lives, public health, and safety.

Pursuant to Sections 502 and 407 of the Stafford Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5192 & 5173, the State agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the United States of America for any claims arising from the removal of debris or wreckage for this disaster. The State agrees that debris removal from public and private property will not occur until the landowner signs an unconditional authorization for the removal of debris.

I have designated Charley English as the State Coordinating Officer for this request. He will work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency in damage assessments and may provide further infonnation or justification on my behalf.

Governor Sonny Perdue

ENCLOSURE A TO EMERGENCY REQUEST (Estimated Requirements)

Estimated requirements for other Federal agency programs: USDA - NRCS -Emergency Watershed Protection $5,000,000 FHWA -Emergency Relief program $5,000,000 Totals: $10,000,000 Estimated Requirements for assistance under the Stafford Act:

AMOUNT
Coordination $100,000
Technical and advisory assistance $250,000
Debris removal $8,000,000
Emergency protective measures $2,000,000
Individuals and Households Program (IHP) $5,000,000
Distribution of emergency supplies $1,000,000
Other (specify) Totals:
Grand Total: $16,350,000
Note: Estimates are to reflect total eligible costs before any cost sharing.