GEORGIA
Rainsoaked Georgia suffered more flooding last week, and with it the prospect of further disaster costs for the state and its localities.
But there was also some very good news from Washington about reimbursement for damage caused by the widespread floods that hit the state this summer.
On Thursday, President Clinton announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency would cover 90% of governmental costs incurred as a result of the July floods. Georgia officials say these expenses exceeded $300 million.
Generally, the emergency agency covers only 75% of local government disaster costs. Gov. Zell Miller's spokesman said the difference will save Georgia taxpayers more than $55 million.
For his part, the governor announced that Georgia would reimburse its local governments for most of whatever flood expenses were not covered by the federal government.
The latest flooding this week struck the state's southeastern corner, with the Savannah area getting hit by 14 inches of rain before dawn Thursday. On Friday, officials said that businesses and schools were closed and that 1,000 residents in 10 coastal counties have been driven from their homes.
No dollar amount was placed on damages.
-- Donald Yacoe, Atlanta
