"Public Assistance for these hard-hit counties will go a long way in bringing relief," said Director Charley English of Georgia Emergency Management Agency. "The recent damage from this month's flooding created financial burdens for local governments and this federal assistance will greatly help recoup some of the financial costs associated with responding to and recovering from this disaster."

In counties designated for public assistance, local governments and some non-profit organizations may qualify to recover their costs on a cost-sharing basis for damage to infrastructure, which includes dams, bridges and roads.

The total number of public assistance counties designated under this disaster declaration now stands at 21. The list now includes: Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Crawford, Dawson, DeKalb, Dooly, Douglas, Fulton, Gwinnett, Heard, Houston, Newton, Paulding, Peach, Rockdale, Stephens, Taylor and Walker counties.

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.

Counties approved for individual assistance earlier are Bartow, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, Gwinnett, Heard, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, Stephens and Walker.

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.