Storm recovery help

If you need help now

• SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline

  Free, confidential support for anyone in emotional distress after a disaster, 24/7.

  1-800-985-5990

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

  Call or text 988 for crisis support, 24/7.

  988

Debris and city services

• Augusta 311

  Debris pickup, missed collections and other City of Augusta services.

  311706-821-2300

• Augusta-Richmond County Emergency Management Agency

  Local emergency updates and preparedness information for Augusta-Richmond County.

• Columbia County, Georgia

  County government home page for Columbia County news and services.

• Aiken County, South Carolina

  Contact Aiken County government directly for debris and solid waste questions.

Federal disaster help

When a federal disaster is declared, apply at DisasterAssistance.gov or call 1-800-621-3362.

• DisasterAssistance.gov (FEMA)

  Apply for federal disaster assistance when a disaster has been declared for your county.

  1-800-621-3362

Before you hire

• Check the contractor's license with the state board (see below).
• Get a written contract and a written estimate.
• Don't pay the full amount up front.
• Be wary of door-to-door offers, especially right after a storm.
• Report price gouging to the Georgia Attorney General or the SC Department of Consumer Affairs.
• Report disaster fraud to the DHS Office of Inspector General.

OurAugusta doesn't check, recommend or rank contractors. Before you hire anyone, check their license and get a written estimate.

Check a contractor's license

Check a license with the state board before you hire:

• Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards

  Licenses for Georgia contractors and other licensed trades.

• SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation

  Licenses for South Carolina contractors and other licensed trades.

Report fraud and price gouging

• Georgia Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division

  Report scams and unfair business practices in Georgia.

  404-651-8600800-869-1123

• Georgia price gouging

  How to report price gouging in Georgia during a declared state of emergency.

• SC Department of Consumer Affairs

  Report scams and price gouging in South Carolina.

  803-734-4200800-922-1594

• DHS Office of Inspector General Hotline

  Report disaster fraud, including fraud involving FEMA assistance.

  1-800-323-8603TTY: 1-844-889-4357

Stay informed

• National Weather Service, Columbia SC office

  Forecasts and warnings for Augusta and the CSRA.

• Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS)

  Statewide emergency information for Georgia.

• SC Emergency Management Division

  Statewide emergency information for South Carolina.

• Ready.gov

  How to prepare for and recover from storms and other emergencies.

More help

For food, utility bills, transit and 211, see Get help: food, utilities, transit and 211.