Obama signs Georgia disaster declaration for winter storms

ATLANTA (AP) — President Barack Obama has declared that a major disaster exists in 33 Georgia counties following recent severe storms and flooding that affected the state.

The White House announced in a news release Saturday that federal aid will be available to state and eligible local governments along with certain private nonprofit organizations in 33 counties and eligible local recovery efforts from Dec. 22 to Jan. 13.

Affected counties include Baker, Carroll, Chattahoochee, Crawford, Dade, Decatur, Douglas, Fannin, Fayette, Gilmer, Greene, Haralson, Harris, Jeff Davis, Lamar, Macon, Marion, Meriwether, Montgomery, Morgan, Muscogee, Newton, Oglethorpe, Pickens, Stewart, Talbot, Taliaferro, Taylor, Towns, Troup, Upson, Webster and Wilkes.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said that additional disaster designations may be made at a later date.

Rosalyn L. Cole has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area.