Weather Emergencies

Whether you're preparing for a hurricane, in the middle of a storm or recovering afterward, the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension has got you covered.

📌 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

Watch press conference on YouTube.

Promotional graphic for the Georgia Hurricane Relief Fund, titled 'Weathered But Strong,' featuring an individual sitting on a tractor in a field.

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.

DONATE

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

Wildfires (Ready.gov)

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

- UGA Weather Network - Daily weather data from 86 weather stations located throughout the state.
- Climate and Agriculture in the Southeast - Blog updates from UGA Extension climatologist.
- National Weather Service - Forecasts from NOAA.
- National Hurricane Center - General storm forecasts and advisories from NOAA.
- Five-Day Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook - from NOAA
- Weather applications and alerts - List of apps from NWS (commercial, academic, and governmental products and services not endorsed by NWS)
- National Flood Insurance Program - The NFIP offers flood insurance to homeowners, renters, and business owners if their community participates in the NFIP. Participating communities agree to adopt and enforce ordinances that meet or exceed FEMA requirements to reduce the risk of flooding.
- Homeowner’s and Renter’s guide to mold cleanup after disasters - Resource for homeowners and renters for dealing with mold after a disaster from the Environmental Protection Agency.
- USDA Food and Nutrition Service Disaster Assistance - USDA FNS coordinates with state, local and voluntary organizations to provide food for shelters and mass feeding sites, distribute food packages directly to households in need in limited situations and issue Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) benefits.
- Water Damage Restoration and Clean Up Checklist - Before making repairs to homes and businesses after floodwaters recede, follow this checklist from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.
- UGA Emergency Management for Early Care and Education
Preparation
1. Create a Kit: Plan on being on your own for a minimum of 3 days.
2. Make a Plan: Involve household members.
3. Be Informed: Make sure someone in your household is trained in CPR and first aid.
Home Restoration
- HUD Resources
- HUD Recovery & Response Videos - 10 minute videos on returning, restoring, and removing mold.
- Cleaning up
  - Salvaging Furniture after a Flood
  - Removing Mold in Your Home
  - Homeowner's & renter's guide to mold cleanup - English | Spanish
  - Flood Cleanup and the Air in Your Home - English | Spanish | Vietnamese
Food Safety
- Be Prepared, Georgia! - Food and water safety guide for severe storms and hurricanes from UGA Extension.
- A Consumer's Guide to Food Safety | Severe Storms and Hurricanes - A guide to food safety during an emergency from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service.
- Food Safety Before, During and After a Power Outage - Infographic from FoodSafety.gov.
- Hurricane Preparation Suggestions for Dairies - Shelter preparation suggestions from UGA Extension for dairies unable to evacuate during a hurricane.
- Ten Survival Tactics When Facing a Hurricane With Your Horses - If horses and owners are hunkered down or caught by the storm in evacuation sites, consider these tactics from UGA Extension to help ensure a more positive outcome.
- Georgia Department of Agriculture's Hurricane Response Center - Tips for preparing for a hurricane from the Georgia Department of Agriculture with a focus on livestock, food, pets and fuel.
- Georgia Department of Agriculture Disaster Assistance Fact Sheet - Overview of Farm Services Agency disaster assistance programs.
- USDA Hurricane Preparation and Recovery Guides for Georgia Producers - Guides prepared by the USDA Southeast Climate Hub and Extension experts to help prepare Georgia producers remain resilient and productive in the face of hurricanes.
- USDA Disasters: Storms - USDA is prepared to provide food, emergency housing, community, as well as farmer and rancher assistance to individuals and small businesses affected by severe storms and flooding.
- USDA Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool - Learn about USDA disaster assistance programs that might be right for you by completing five simple steps.
- USDA Emergency Farm Loans - When a tornado, flood, or drought strikes, or quarantine is imposed by the Secretary of Agriculture, or when other natural disasters occur, FSA's Emergency loan program is there to help eligible farmers and ranchers rebuild and recover from sustained losses.
- USDA Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) - LIP provides benefits to livestock producers for livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality caused by adverse weather or by attacks by animals reintroduced into the wild by the Federal Government.
- USDA Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-raised Fish (ELAP) - ELAP provides financial assistance to eligible producers of livestock, honeybees and farm-raised fish for losses due to disease, certain adverse weather events or loss conditions, including blizzards and wildfires, as determined by the Secretary.
- USDA Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) - NAP provides financial assistance to producers of uninsurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory, or prevented planting occur due to natural disasters.
- USDA Tree Assistance Program (TAP) - TAP provides financial assistance to qualifying orchardists and nursery tree growers to replant or rehabilitate eligible trees, bushes and vines damaged by natural disasters
- UGA Chainsaw Safety - Resources, training and videos
- Soil Health Practices for Mitigating Natural Disasters - Tips from USDA NRCS
- Resources for Storm Damage Preparedness and Recovery - Resources from ProForest for forest landowners and managers in the aftermath of hurricanes and other storms
- UGA Extension Mental Wellbeing - Helping Georgians manage mental health, stress & substance use
- UGA Extension Rural Stress - helping farmers and families thrive
- NC State Extension - Tips for Handling Family Stress After a Disaster
- NC State Extension - Family Stress After Disasters
- Colorado State Extension - Coping with Disasters
- Arizona Cooperative Extension - Promoting the Health and Well-Being of Families During Difficult Times
- Extension Disaster Education Network - Research-based information from Cooperative Extension organizations around the country.
- UF/IFAS Extension Disaster Preparedness & Recovery Resources - Bilingual resources from University of Florida
- NC Disaster Information Center - NC State Extension
- Nebraska Extension Disaster Education
- Texas Extension Disaster Education Network
- University of Illinois Extension - Disaster Resources, Teacher Guide and Activities

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.

Search for UGA Extension Publications

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

Disaster Relief Resources for Farmers & Producers

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.

Weather Emergencies

📌 Hurricane Season

Hurricane Helene Agricultural Damage Press Conference