ATLANTA -- Five counties have been added to the list of nine counties now eligible to receive Public Assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a result of severe weather and flooding during the period of September 18-26 in Georgia.

”Restoring vital services to communities as quickly as possible is part of our continuing commitment to help Georgia achieve a successful recovery from the recent floods,” said Charley English of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency.

The five new counties are: Cherokee, Crawford, DeKalb, Fulton and Newton.

The total number of public assistance counties designated under this disaster declaration now stands at 14. The list now includes: Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Crawford, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, Gwinnett, Newton, Paulding, Stephens and Walker counties.

This assistance would help local governments recover their costs associated with damage to infrastructure, which includes dams, bridges and roads. Governmental applicants in these counties are eligible to receive public assistance. This means that federal funding is available to local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities.

The federal declaration also means that affected counties can apply to be part of a Hazard Mitigation Grant program, which provides assistance to state and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for actions taken to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural hazards.

Individual Assistance which includes funding to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses, is now available for 17 counties. The list of disaster declared counties for Individual Assistance includes: Bartow, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, Gwinnett, Heard, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, Stephens and Walker.

Low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration also will be available to help cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance.

Those who sustained losses in these counties may apply for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers operate from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (local time) Monday through Sunday.