You might find some useful opportunities for residents via this group: https://www.berea.edu/centers/loyal-jones-appalachian-center/learn-more-about-appalachia/flood-information-and-flood-relief. They've been working with lower-income and marginalised communities affected by climate change with an eye to solving immediate problems and at some point hopefully impacting state authorities with some success. I agree with Mrs. B. There is some Politique de l'Autruche going on in certain GA state sectors which are mostly white with undue influence. I don't understand it, but confronting it directly only seems to cause entrenchment. I'm impressed with Berea College (link shared) and its ground-up/community organisation approach in the face of stonewalling from established, more authoritarian and exclusive state structures who seem unwilling to accept and enforce accountability. I'm more and more a fan of adrienne maree brown and her approach to activism, which pins 'not much' on top-down decisions and really focuses on community activism sustained through connecting communities who have experienced climate change and built imperfect local solutions rather than expecting any high-level leadership change to actually enact or fund change or offer real help for those experiencing the results of their neglect.