📌 Hurricane Season
It's hurricane season in Georgia. Whether you're preparing for a hurricane, in the middle of a storm or recovering afterward, we've got you covered.
Hurricane Helene Agricultural Damage Press Conference
Weathered But Strong: Georgia Hurricane Relief Fund
UGA Extension and the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences have partnered with the Georgia Farm Bureau to create the Weathered But Strong hurricane relief fund. Farmers need our support. Please consider a donation to help us preserve Georgia's family farms.
Our goal is to raise $1 million to provide direct assistance to farmers impacted by Hurricane Helene. These funds will fill the gaps not met by other forms of aid, helping to repair fencing, restore livestock and get Georgia farmers back on their feet. 100% of your donations go to those in need, so please consider donating today.
Hurricanes & Flooding Resources
- Preparing for a Hurricane or Tropical Storm (CDC)
- Portable Generator Safety - Avoiding carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning
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Resources to prepare and recover from disasters
We have many research-backed resources to help before, during and after emergency situations. Whether the need is flood clean-up or financial considerations, Extension offers valuable research-based information to support communities preparing and recovering from disasters. Additionally, you'll find related information from governmental and other Extension agencies.
Tornadoes
Wildfires
COVID-19 Considerations & Information
- UGA Extension Coronavirus Resources - cleaning, food and cooking information
- Dealing with disasters during the pandemic - CDC resources to keep yourself and others safe
- Preparing for and recovering from disasters during COVID-19 - American Red Cross
Miscellaneous
Emergency Publications
Accident Extrication Procedures for Farm Families and Employees
(C 860)
This publication is designed to help people with average first-aid knowledge improve their ability to make decisions when they are the first person at the scene of a farm accident.
Developing a Storm Preparedness and Response Plan for Dairies
(B 1525)
The Southeast U.S. is susceptible to hurricanes and tropical storms every year. Hurricane season occurs from June 1 through November 30, and these storms are normally forecast several days in advance. Tornadoes, ice storms, thunderstorms, or straight-line winds—potentially damaging winds produced by thunderstorms—are rarely forecast with enough notice to prepare other than to hopefully warn employees. Storms disrupt operations and have the potential to cause injury to people and livestock and devastate facilities and the landscape. While there is nothing that can be done to prevent the impact of a storm, producers should have an emergency plan that safeguards family, employees, livestock, and equipment. The emergency plan should also address how to safely manage the damage after a storm. Emergency plans should include one-day, three-day, and seven-day or longer responses during which power outages, access to vendors, and normal operations may be very limited. Hurricanes that occurred in 2017 and 2018 caused devastating damage in some areas that took weeks to restore power because of the extensive damage to distribution lines. This bulletin will provide information producers can use to develop an emergency preparedness plan in advance of a storm and suggestions for their potential responses following a storm. No plan will be 100% effective in all situations, but preparing will hopefully minimize damage and help speed the recovery.
Hurricane and Storm Damage to Greenhouse and Greenhouse Crops
(TP 120)
Hurricanes can cause severe damage to greenhouse structures and crops, both directly and indirectly. Strong winds, heavy rains, and flooding not only impact physical infrastructure, but also damage crops through exposure to extreme conditions. Additionally, disruptions to water, electricity, and logistics complicate production efforts.
This publication outlines common types of hurricane damage in greenhouses and provides recommendations on how growers can minimize the impact of such storms.
Home Emergency Preparedness Handbook
(B 1428)
Communities across Georgia are subject to a number of potential disasters such as fires, flooding, severe storms, earthquakes, dam failures, tornados and hurricanes. While we all hope that such occurrences never happen, it has been shown time and again that being prepared for disasters is prudent. This handbook contains a step-by-step guide to disaster planning along with other essential information you will need in building a comprehensive home emergency preparedness plan. Be sure to involve all the members of your household when developing your plan. A plan will only work when everyone knows about it and agrees to operate within its guidelines.
Home Emergency Preparedness Checklist
(B 1428-1)
A two-page checklist of the basic list of supplies you should have ready for emergencies. Keep the items you will most likely need during an evacuation in an easy-to-carry, waterproof container. Be mindful that this is a basic list of supplies. A more comprehensive list can be found in the Home Emergency Management Guide.
Hurricane Helene Impact Report
(AP 133-1)
We estimate that Hurricane Helene’s damages to Georgia agriculture and forestry will cost the state economy at least $5.5 billion in 2024 present value. This figure represents the sum of direct crop losses, losses to firms that support agriculture and forestry, losses to workers in those and related industries, and the recovery and restoration costs that firms in these industries will face. The Georgia Forestry Commission is a collaborator with UGA on this publication.
Ensuring Safe Private Well Water for Household Use After a Flood
(C 1124)
The quality of drinking water from wells may be compromised during a flood. Flooding around the well increases the risk of drinking water becoming contaminated with bacteria or any other contaminants, rendering it unsafe to drink and for washing food items. This publication describes the steps to take when you suspect that your well has been affected by flooding. Steps include well inspection, calculation of the depth of water and storage capacity of the well, shock chlorination, and laboratory bacteria testing. The circular also discusses tips on how to know whether the water is safe to drink again.
Dealing with Pasture, Hay, Feed, and Livestock Losses After Significant Weather Events
(C 1165)
As a result of significant weather events, many producers in Georgia may experience losses of pasture growth, hay stocks, feed supplies, and livestock. After such events occur, farmers will be assessing damage to fields, stock, and property for many days, weeks, months. This publication is intended to provide recommendations to farmers that have experienced adverse affects due to significant weather in their forage and livestock production systems.
Disaster Distress Helpline
The Disaster Distress Helpline (1-800-985-5990) is a 24/7, 365-day-a-year national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any disaster. Toll-free and multilingual, confidential crisis support is available to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
Call 1-800-985-5990 Now
Additional Publications and Resources
Georgia Residents Handbook to Prepare for Natural Disasters
This handbook provides detailed information on emergency preparedness, evacuation planning, and steps that residents can take to protect their life and property. The purpose of this handbook is to provide actionable information that residents can use to build resilience to natural hazards in Georgia.
Emergency Government Resources
- DisasterAssistance.gov
- Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency
- Federal Emergency Management Agency
- FEMA Mobile App and Text Messages
- National Hurricane Center - NOAA
- Ready.gov
- Ready Georgia