Cherokee County is eligible for federal disaster aid, as President Barack Obama on Thursday issued a disaster declaration for the State of Georgia.

Federal Emergency Management Administrator Craig Fugate said the president's action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Cherokee as well as in Carroll, Cobb, Douglas and Paulding counties.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs and low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses.

Residents and business owners who suffered losses can apply for assistance by registering online at www.fema.gov or by calling 1 (800) 621-3362.

Governor Sonny Perdue made his request for a presidential declaration of an emergency on Tuesday.

Woodstock Mayor Donnie Henriques said he was "irritated" that it took two days for the president to approve the declaration.

"When a natural disaster occurs, you have to set your priorities in order," Henriques said. "We got people sitting in shelters and sitting in standing water in their homes."

The portion of the governor's request that would aid governments that sustained damage to buildings and public costs due to the flooding still is pending federal approval.

Vice President Joe Biden was scheduled to survey the flood damage throughout Georgia today.

Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine said the latest estimate shows more than 10,000 homes with significant flood damage.

"That's probably going to go up," he said. "Our initial damage estimate of $250 million, that's a conservative number."

The Cherokee Sheriff's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is continuing its assessment of damage countywide. FEMA Damage Assessment Teams joined county and state officials on Thursday to continue the process.

Estimates of damage in the city of Woodstock alone top $23.5 million, with work still underway to assess the impact throughout Cherokee. In Woodstock, more than 61 businesses, 54 homes and 74 apartment units have suffered major damage or been destroyed.

While Woodstock businesses and home were flooded when Noonday Creek levels rose, Canton structures suffered when the Etowah River overran its banks.

Creek and river levels have receded, but Lake Allatoona remains less than 10 feet below its flood stage of 860 feet. As a result, campgrounds and some day-use areas have been closed and businesses in the Little River area have been damaged.

Cleanup efforts and road repairs are underway throughout the county. County road crews were out making repairs on Thursday at Purcell Lane off Birmingham Road caused by a washed-out storm drainage pipe.

Swords & Phelps General Dentistry practice on Waleska Road just north of Riverstone Parkway in Canton has been shut down all week due to the flooding. The office had 10 inches of water standing outside and about three to four inches inside the office.

"There is filthy, muddy residue everywhere," he said, adding his staff was at work when the flooding began on Monday. Water started backing up in the parking lot at about lunch time. Within 30 minutes, the water had poured its way into the office.

"It was worse than we originally thought it was going to be," he said about the amount of the damage.

Phelps said he hopes to have the office back open by the beginning of next week.

Some local companies are pitching in to help with the recovery effort.

Green Heating and Cooling in Canton is offering free after-flood heating-and air-conditioning inspections. For information, call (770) 479-2844.

Lowe's is making a $250,000 donation to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. All Lowe's stores in Georgia are serving as official cash donation sites to benefit the relief fund.

The American Red Cross and county government agencies are operating an emergency shelter at the county South Annex recreation center in Woodstock. Some evacuees still are being sheltered there.