Here are answers to common flood recovery questions in Gwinnett.

My home was damaged by the flood. Where can I get help?
Teams from FEMA are working to locate affected home and business owners at shelters and in affected neighborhoods to make sure they get access to federal help. More information is available at www.fema.gov.

FEMA offers a flyer with information on how to apply for disaster assistance: Disaster Assistance Is Available Now (English) or Assistencia por Desastre Esta Disponible Ahora (Spanish).

Residents and business owners who had flood damage should register with FEMA online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1.800.621.3362 (for hearing and speech impaired: 1.800.462.7585.) When you call, please have: your Social Security number, a phone number for returning your call, address and description of damaged property, your current mailing address, and any insurance information you may have.

A Disaster Recovery Center is now open Monday through Saturday from 8:00am until 6:00pm and Sunday from 1:00pm until 7:00pm at Mountain Park Depot, 5050 Five Forks Trickum Road in Lilburn, to take applications for FEMA grants and Small Business Administration low-interest loans.

Government assistance covers basic needs only (temporary housing, transportation, medical, dental, funeral, etc.) and may not cover your entire loss. If you have insurance, the government may pay your remaining costs after insurance reimbursement.

Some aid is in the form of loans that must be paid back (personal property loss, vehicle repair or replacement, moving/storage expenses). You must register with FEMA first to be eligible for flood-related loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA). More information on SBA disaster loans is online at www.sba.gov. Go to Services, then Disaster Assistance.

You should also check to see if your private insurance will cover any of the damage. Most standard homeowner policies do not cover flood damage.

Disaster assistance is available regardless of nationality, race, religion, sex, age, disability or English proficiency. If you feel you have been discriminated against, please call FEMA tollfree at 1.800.621.3362.

Is there a law against price gouging after a disaster?
Yes. During a declared state of emergency, Georgia law prohibits businesses from taking advantage of the situation to engage in price gouging (O.C.G.A. Sections 10-1-393.4 and 10-1-438).

Businesses may not sell any goods or services necessary to protect the health, safety or property of the public at prices higher than the prices at which those same goods or services were offered before the declaration of a state of emergency. This can include food, lodging, gasoline, propane gas, lumber, and other supplies. Nor may a business raise the price of supplies or services for the purpose of salvaging, repairing, or rebuilding structures damaged as the result of a natural disaster. Increases are only permitted that accurately reflect increases in the cost of new stock or the cost to transport it.

The Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs investigates allegations of illegal pricing with the assistance from the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). Violators can be fined from $2,000 to $15,000 per violation.

What roads are closed in my area? 
Here is the current list of road closures in the County.

When will local roads be repaired?
Gwinnett DOT and Water Resources staff identified 14 roads that have been either wholly or partially washed out due to the flood. Construction on all of these jobs should be underway by early October assuming good weather, availability of construction materials, and no further currently unforeseen issues.

The County will be working longer hours including weekends to ensure these roads are opened as quickly as possible. The cooperation and understanding of affected residents is very much appreciated as we strive to repair damaged roads. Major roads get priority along with residential roads that have no alternative access.

The following roads were affected:

Cruse Road at James Road
West Park Place near Rockbridge Road
Four Winds Drive
Rocky Hill Drive at Garner Road
River Valley Drive near Dacula Road
Brownlee Road near Rockbridge Road
Harmony Grove Road near Old Rosser Road
McDonough Road
North Pounds Drive near Rockbridge Road
Tanglewood Road at Ferncliff Road
Outer Banks at Southport Crossing
Canon Hill Drive from Stone Crossing Drive to Camp Circle
North River Drive
West Lidell Road from Satellite Boulevard to Davis Circle

Are County parks open?
All recreation centers and indoor aquatic facilities are open during normal hours.

All parks and trails are now open except the Yellow River Park Riverside trails, which are still closed due to excessive rain. Please call the Trails hotline at 770.978.5270 for updates.

Where can I find shelter information?
Please call the American Red Cross at 404.870.4440 or online at www.georgiahousingsearch.org.  

One of the Salvation Army's seven metro disaster centers was in Gwinnett at the Corps Community Center at 3455 Sugarloaf Parkway in Lawrenceville.

Who is responsible for cleaning up flood debris?
The property owner is responsible. Please be careful and look for potential hazards such as sharp objects, broken glass, and electrical hazards.

For debris on public roads, please contact Gwinnett County Department of Transportation at 770.822.7474.

For blocked storm drains, please call Stormwater Management at 678.376.7000.

The Georgia Emergency Management Agency reports that the Georgia Baptist Convention has established a line for homeowners to call for debris removal or mud-outs, 1.800.460.6881.

Where can I dispose of flood debris?
First contact your private trash hauler.

You may be able to dispose of it at a local landfill but not all landfills accept all types of waste. Some charge a disposal fee.

Local and state permitted landfills include the following:

For yard waste (trees, limbs, leaves, etc.) and household waste:
S&W Landfill
421 Thunder Road
Buford, GA 30518
770.945.1771

For construction debris and household waste:
BFI/Richland Creek Landfill
5691 South Richland Creek
Buford, GA 30518
770.271.3575

Who is responsible for removing debris from a river or creek?
Rivers, creeks, and other water bodies are owned by the property owner upon whose property the waterway is located. Any debris that is located in the river would therefore need to be removed by the property owner. Please be aware that clearing of live vegetation and trees within the 25-foot buffer around the waterway is prohibited. If the tree is dead or dying, you may remove it without a permit. (Reference: Soil, Erosion Control, Ordinance Article III, Section 3.1, Paragraph 3.) Please contact the Department of Planning and Development at 678.518.6000 for more information.

Will the County pay to repair damaged property? 
No. Your best sources to cover damage and repairs are: private flood insurance (if you have it) or federal disaster recovery grants from FEMA. Most private homeowner's insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

For structural damage, such as damage to foundations, exterior walls, etc., or pressure against the building from a mudslide or debris flow, it is advisable to consult with a structural engineer to determine the safety of occupying your home.

When will the County investigate a drainage problem I reported?
We've been inundated with calls about flooding and drainage issues since the heavy rainfall began on September 15. We activated our Wet Weather Customer Response Plan that uses management staff to assist with investigations and condition assessments. We expect to be able to respond with an initial site visit within five business days of your call. Required repairs will likely take some time to complete and will be prioritized based on all identified needs.

Who can answer questions about septic tank issues?
The Stormwater section on this website has information about septic tank maintenance. If you have a septic tank failure, call Environmental Health at 770.963.5132. 

To find out if sewer service is available in your area, call Water Resources at 678.376.7139 or e-mail DWRrecords@gwinnettcounty.com.

Does the County provide sandbags?
No - but they may be available from several local supply companies. The County cannot take responsibility or liability for any purchases you make from the following mentioned suppliers. There also are other likely additional suppliers. We list these for information only. Indicated costs are estimated.

You probably will need to purchase bags and sand separately.
Sandbags may be available at builder's supply or landscape supply houses.

Burlap bags generally cost between $0.50 and $1 per bag. The County is aware of the following local suppliers of burlap bags:

DX2 Geosyntex Inc.
307 Industrial Park Drive
Lawrenceville, GA 30046-4645
770.682.1758

Atlanta Landscape Materials
5996 Buford Highway
Doraville, GA 30340
877.467.3460

Play sand is usually available at home improvement stores for about $3.50 per 50-pound bag. Bulk sand is available from landscape supply companies. A yard of river sand costs about $13 plus delivery.

When do I need to obtain a building or construction permit and inspections?
Planning and Development Department employees are committed to helping you get back into your home as soon as possible. We understand that many residents are not experienced with the permitting and inspection process. To help you, we have listed some general guidelines that you can use to determine when you need to obtain a building or construction permit and inspections.

Permits are required for:

• Demolition of all or part of your home.
• Replacement or repair of studs, trusses, rafters, insulation, electrical, gas energy conservation, mechanical or plumbing systems.
• Turning back on the electric or gas supply. If you require water to be turned on, contact the Department of Water Resources at 678.376.6800.
• Major or minor grading in or around buffered areas, floodplain or easements.
• Re-establishment/reforestation of a stream buffer.
• Tree removal within the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) 25-foot state water buffer along streams and lakes.
• Standard permitting fees will be assessed, but flood damage situations will be given top priority. Any applicant (property owner or contractor) needing to obtain a permit for flood-related damage will need to obtain a demolition permit that will be converted to a building permit to authorize repair of the structure following a damage assessment inspection. Our staff is ready to assist all citizens with this flood related permitting procedure. Please contact Planning and Development at 678.376.6020 for further details about this process or how to initiate your permit for flood-related damage.

Permit is not required for:

• Removal of damaged carpet, cabinets and furniture.
• Painting existing walls.
• Installing new carpet and cabinets.
• Replacement of damaged windows and doors. (If you're increasing the size of the window, you must obtain a building permit.)
• Roofing repairs (Structural damage or structural repair requires a permit)
• Removing by hand natural or artificial debris from stream channel.
• Removal of debris in your yard.