The Director of the UGA Weather Network, Pam Knox, does a great job of keeping Extension informed on upcoming weather events. Around 11AM on Friday September 20th, we received the first email from Pam regarding Hurricane Helene. At that point she said “it is too early to say what is going to happen… there is no agreement about if a storm will develop, where and when it will develop if it does, how strong it will be, where it will go, and how much it will rain.” By Monday (9/23) afternoon, Helene had been named a tropical storm, and by Wednesday (9/25), Helene was upgraded to a Category 4 hurricane. Category four hurricanes are categorized by winds between 131-155mph, extensive damage to buildings, strong storage surges, and extensive flooding and landscape damage.
While some parts of Georgia are no strangers to hurricanes, the strength of Helene and its unique trajectory up the Florida panhandle and through the center of Georgia have made it worse than hurricanes Michael and Irma combined. Pam said “I am running out of words to describe the catastrophe this may be, but most people that live in these areas have never experienced a storm like this before and they will be totally unprepared for what they will have to deal with.” I sincerely hope you have listened to forecasts and prepared for widespread power outages, flooding, and damage throughout our area. Unfortunately, I am writing this article on 9/26, and by the time this article is published, Helene will have made its way through our area. Here are a few thoughts for how we navigate the aftermath of a large storm.
Once the storm passes, conduct a damage assessment of your immediate area. Look to see if there are any immediate hazards like live and downed power lines, gas leaks, or water main breaks. If any hazardous condition exists, please leave the area immediately and seek help. You may want to begin inventorying your property for things like debris from your home, downed trees, or any items that were displaced by the storm. If you begin cleaning up, wear proper safety equipment such as gloves, safety goggles, heavy boots, and long sleeves and pants. Do not overextend your knowledge, skills, or abilities. Be particularly mindful that emergency response may be more difficult after a large storm due to flooding and hazardous conditions. Try to restrict your travel as well, as damaged and flooded roadways can be significantly dangerous.
From a communication standpoint, be sure to let your family and friends know you’re alright. Tune into local media and emergency officials for updated information on conditions, ongoing threats, and sources of help should you need it. Consider signing up for the free Lincoln County Emergency Alerting System CodeRED. Registration is available at lincolncountyga.com/emergency-alerts. If you can do so safely, check on your neighbors and lend assistance if possible.
We are expecting extended power outages across the state. Do not grill or use gasoline-powered equipment indoors, as carbon monoxide poisoning can kill. Be sure to practice good food safety – perishable foods that have not been adequately refrigerated or frozen can cause severe health problems. A full freezer can stay frozen for about two days if the door is kept closed; if it is half full it will keep for about one day. Refrigerated food can keep for about 4 hours. If in doubt, it is better to discard food than risk illness. Do not drink or use tap water for food preparation until you have been notified by officials or tested your water source, as water contamination is possible.
We are hopeful our area will weather the storm fairly well as we are on the outskirts of the projected path, but we will see ramifications of it regardless. If you need assistance with disaster preparation, post-storm practices, or more information, please contact us at uge3181@uga.edu or 706-359-3233.
