Athens-Clarke assessors seek storm damage info

Athens-Clarke County wants to know about the damage Irma inflicted on you.

The Athens-Clarke County Unified Government this week is conducting a preliminary damage assessment on government, nonprofit and private properties.

The assessments will be handed over to the Georgia Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which are responsible for assessing and documenting the extent of damage wrought by Hurricane Irma — downgraded to a tropical depression by the time it reached Athens, but still with enough punch to send trees crashing down onto yards, houses and power lines.

Several Athens-Clarke government departments are sending out workers in government vehicles to look at damage around the community this week. They should have photo identification showing them to be employees of the Athens-Clarke government, according to a government announcement late last week.

These assessors are canvassing the county, especially in places thought to be hardest-hit such as Five Points and the Homewood Hills neighborhood.

The government is asking people and businesses to contact its Emergency Management Agency so that one of these assessors can be sent out to evaluate the damage. A homeowner or business owner does not have be at home or at the business when an assessor visits.

They want to hear about minor damage as well as major damage.

A telephone line is being staffed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily through Friday. The number is (706) 613-3330, option 4. Callers can also leave voice mail messages outside those hours.

Another way to report damage is fill out an online form posted at www.athensclarkecounty.com/irma.

The federal and state estimates are used to request federal financial aid.

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