On October 10, 2018, Hurricane Michael, the third-most powerful Atlantic Hurricane to hit the United States, made landfall in Mexico Beach, Florida, as a Category 4 storm then rapidly moved into parts of southern Georgia. Wind speeds reached 155 mph and left around $25.1 billion in damages while claiming 72 lives. The storm left devastation in its path throughout south Georgia, leaving many citizens without power, destroying infrastructure, damaging crop production, and resulting in an approximately $2.5 billion loss to Georgia’s timber and agriculture industries.While the destruction was concentrated in the southern part of our state, I am proud of all of Georgia’s citizens, including our leadership, for coming together to help our loved ones and friends impacted by the storm. Gov. Nathan Deal and state agencies took quick action before, during, and immediately after the storm. Their foresight into proper evacuation and safety instructions saved lives, and their rapid response to provide relief and help after the storm is commendable. Within five days, Gov. Deal worked with the federal government to receive approval for his request that Georgia’s 31 counties impacted by the storm receive public assistance along with six counties being approved for individual assistance. The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Georgia Emergency Management & Homeland Security Agency worked together and with other agencies to provide aid.
Along with working with the federal government, Gov. Deal ordered a special session of the 154th Georgia General Assembly to convene on November 13, to provide emergency funding to state agencies and local governments following the storm. During the special session, we were able to amend the Fiscal Year 2019 Budget – House Bill 1EX – with bipartisan and unanimous support in the Senate to include an appropriation of $270 million for Hurricane Michael disaster relief. Additionally, we approved an income tax credit for owners of timberland destroyed by the hurricane. House Bill 4EX allows timberland owners in 28 counties to apply for an income tax credit worth 100% of timberland’s value lost to the storm. The income tax credit has a cap of $200 million, and the credit is individually capped at $400 per eligible acre of qualified timberland. The Department of Revenue is responsible for accepting and approving applications as well as crediting taxpayers whose applications are approved.
Although additional appropriations and an income tax credit were a step in the right direction, going into the 2019 session, the Georgia General Assembly realized that even more assistance is necessary, as south Georgia works towards its long road to recovery. The 2019 Fiscal Year Amended Budget – House Bill 30 – was further amended to include an additional $20 million for emergency disaster relief assistance to Georgia’s farmers in counties impacted by the storm. The budget includes a one-time appropriation of $2 million for hospitals impacted by the storm to assist with infrastructure reconstruction and other recovery efforts. To address the damage schools sustained, we passed Senate Bill 67, which allows school systems with buildings that are at least 20 years old and were impacted by the storm to receive regular funding to repair or replace damaged buildings.
Lastly, we passed House Bill 446, which provides an additional opportunity to claim the income tax credit on timberland damaged by Hurricane Michael. Currently, someone who has damaged timberland can claim the credit upon replanting the trees, but HB 446 allows an individual to claim the credit upon restoration of the land damaged by the hurricane. The final versions of SB 67 and HB 446 both received passage with unanimous and bipartisan support.
Directly after the storm, during the special session, and during the 2019 session, our state’s leaders, despite party or geographic location, came together and put the needs of our citizens first. I commend former Gov. Nathan Deal and current Gov. Brian P. Kemp for their leadership and all members of the Georgia General Assembly for working together to bring necessary relief to south Georgia.
While I am proud of the efforts on the state level, I am saddened by the political and partisan divide that is stalling federal aid to our friends in south Georgia. Although there are issues that come down to party lines, assisting those who have suffered and lost not only millions of dollars but also their homes and way of life isn’t one of those.
President Ronald Reagan once said, “There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don’t care who gets the credit.” I encourage our representatives in Washington to remember this, as they (once again) consider the critical relief package for those impacted by natural disasters like Hurricane Michael. It doesn’t matter if those affected voted for them or will in the future, what matters is that they receive help and assistance before the road to recovery becomes even harder. Our friends in south Georgia and our neighbors in Florida need our help, and they need it now. There is no time to waste, and political grandstanding should not be permitted. I encourage our representatives to follow suit and do what Georgia did – put politics aside and put the needs of citizens first.
to your business!