ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — FEMA has made more than $1 billion available for state recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene and Tropical Storm Debby, and for health care costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic, federal officials said Thursday.

The Department of Homeland Security said the funding is to “repair and restore critical public infrastructure” across the state, and is made available through FEMA’s Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation grant programs.

Of that funding, at least $350 million will go to more than 140 recovery projects from Hurricane Helene and Tropical Storm Debby.

Approximately $671 million will be used for “emergency protective measures taken by Georgia healthcare facilities including the employment of nurses and clinical care staff, sanitization efforts,

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