Emergency Preparations – Hurricane Debby

While Hurricane Debby is making its way toward Coastal and Central Georgia, and the Lowcountry and Coastal South Carolina, Georgia and South Carolina residents need to look ahead to ensure their safety before the storm gets to us. It is important for persons with disabilities who may require specific support, resources, or additional time to get to a safe location.

Walton Options will continue to offer support and updates in the coming days. We plan to open our Augusta and North Augusta offices during our usual office hours through Monday provided there is a safe environment for our staff, volunteers and consumers.

Currently all of our offices are operating on our usual business hours. We still discourage travel during torrential rain and heavy storms that may occur in the coming days as a result of Hurricane Debby. We advise you to please call ahead to your local Walton Options office if you require services.

Our Emergency Services include-

Access and charging stations for durable medical equipment (canes, walkers, AT chargers, wheelchairs, shower chairs, accessible cots, etc.) of items that were lost or damaged during the emergency.
Advocating for the rights of individuals with disabilities in emergency shelters and beyond.
Visit shelters to assess for needs of individuals with disabilities, arrange services and provide I&R.
Assisting with transitioning home from shelters via connection to sister CILS in areas persons are returning to.
Information and Referral—calls regarding emergency preparation and impact will take priority. Post storm, we will assist in completing any documentation or applications to agencies such as FEMA and American Red Cross.

We will keep you updated on service availability through our Facebook account. We want to work to assure people are safe and have necessary resources, but please keep in mind the limitations that we may face depending on the level of impact in our areas.

In addition, we have compiled a list of online resources that can be used before, during and after Hurricane Debby strikes. Many of these resources are valuable for other disaster emergency situations. This page will be updated as new resources become available.

Basics to prepare for Hurricane Debby

General Preparation Information – https://gema.georgia.gov/plan-prepare/ready-georgia
Prepare an Emergency Prep Kit – https://gema.georgia.gov/plan-prepare/ready-georgia/build-kit
Make a communication Plan – https://gema.georgia.gov/plan-prepare/ready-georgia/make-plan

Individuals with Disabilities – Think about more than just food and water resources –
https://www.ready.gov/disability

Apps & Resources to keep you in the know & provide communication

National Hurricane Center
https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

FEMA App
https://www.fema.gov/about/news-multimedia/mobile-products

SC Emergency Manager
The official app of SCEMD. It is designed for users to build their own emergency plans, to keep track of supplies and to stay connected to loved ones. In addition, coastal residents can now “Know Your Zone” instantly using the maps feature as well as locate the nearest emergency shelters when they are open. The tools section features a flashlight, locator whistle and the ability to report damage to emergency officials. The SC Emergency Manager can function without the need of a data connection, which is useful when basic utilities are offline.
https://www.scemd.org/stay-informed/mobile-applications/

Local Resources

City of Aiken Safety & Emergency Preparedness Resources
https://www.cityofaikensc.gov/emergency-preparedness/

City of Augusta Emergency Management Resources
http://www.augustaga.gov/462/Emergency-Management

State of Emergency Contact Numbers for Georgia
https://gema.georgia.gov/about-us/contact-us

511sc.org & 511ga.org
These websites offers real-time traffic updates for Georgia and South Carolina’s major roads.
http://www.511sc.org/
http://www.511ga.org/

News Updates:

South Carolina Govern Issues State of Emergency
https://governor.sc.gov/news/2024-08/gov-mcmaster-declares-state-emergency-south-carolina

Georgia Governor Issues State of Emergency
https://gov.georgia.gov/press-releases/2024-08-05/gov-kemp-and-state-leaders-prepare-tropical-storm-debby

Things to remember

In the lead up to, during and after the storm, here are some good tips to remember:

Before a Storm, remember these T.I.P.S:

Terms. A “watch” is a notification for residents to be on alert of a potential storm, and a “warning” indicates that a hurricane is expected in your area. Review the South Carolina Hurricane Guide for more information.
Insurance and Important information. Review your insurance plans and have copies of important documents, such as driver’s licenses, medical information, and insurance cards.
Plan ahead. Create a family plan in the event that an evacuation is necessary, and keep emergency contact information handy. Don’t forget to consider your pets when planning for a possible evacuation.
Supplies. Plan ahead of time by creating emergency kits filled with survival necessities such as bottled water, non-perishable snacks, medication, batteries, blankets, crank radios and flashlights.

During a Storm:

Listen to local radio and television broadcasts for current conditions and recommended actions.
When directed by local authorities, you may be required to evacuate. Know your South Carolina designated evacuation route and Georgia evacuation route in advance.
Shelter. If you are unable to evacuate, seek shelter in an interior room, closet, or hallway on the lowest level.

After a Storm:

Be aware of dangers. Be cautious of potential dangers, such as downed power lines, contaminated water, or possible gas leaks.
Document If possible, take photos of the damage on your property or residence, in addition to making written notes.
Seek assistance: Contact SCEMD’s Recovery Program and GEMA’s Recovery Program to see what relief or recovery programs may be available for your area.
Be cautious of scams. Be alert to possible disaster-related scams such as fraudulent phone calls or price gouging, and report any suspected scams to the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs. Do not give any personal information, including credit card and bank account information, to unverified callers.

Article tags: emergency prep, emergency preparedness, hurricane Debby, hurricane preparedness

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