Emergency Preparations – Hurricane Dorian
While Hurricane Dorian is making its way towards the Atlantic Coast, 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 week. We work to keep our offices open during our usual office hours provided there is a safe environment for our staff, volunteers and consumers.
Our Augusta and North Augusta Office will open as normal the remainder of the week. The Low Country Office will be closed with all calls being forwarded to our Augusta Office. If require services, please call your local office number. We discourage travel during torrential rain and heavy storms that may occur in the coming days as a result of Hurricane Dorian.
We will continue to keep you updated on our services moving into next week and advise if there are any changes.
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 Twitter and Facebook accounts. 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 Dorian 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 Dorian
General Preparation Information – https://gema.georgia.gov/plan-prepare/storms-disasters/hurricanes
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/develop-communications-plan
Individuals with Disabilities – Think about more than just food and water resources
Ready.gov, Individuals with Disabilities – https://www.ready.gov/individuals-access-functional-needs
Closures:
CSRA School & Organization Closings and Delays:
Richmond County Schools Closed September 3 to September 5.
https://www.wrdw.com/content/news/Allendale-Walterboro-campuses-of-USC-Salkehatchie-closed-Tuesday-due-to-hurricane–559154251.html
https://www.wjbf.com/news/richmond-county-schools-closed-tuesday-thru-thursday/
Low Country Closings and Delays:
https://www.live5news.com/2019/09/01/watch-live-gov-mcmaster-provide-update-hurricane-dorian-preps/
https://www.live5news.com/2019/09/02/look-here-school-businesses-closures-announced-ahead-dorian/
Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority – Emergency Shutdowns announced
https://www.bjwsa.org/water-outages
Shelter Information:
Finding Shelters in South Carolina:
https://www.scemd.org/stay-informed/emergency-shelters/
Finding Shelters in Georgia:
https://gema.georgia.gov/emergencies-0/hurricane-dorian
Atlanta Motor Speedway Opens up for Evacuees:
https://www.wjbf.com/news/atlanta-motor-speedway-hosting-evacuee-rvs/?fbclid=IwAR0qcxQ6kylx_OMNupxOXzkWzbw7-jaJ_6_fBnIhQGxQ7NVuv2rS9ZL7Ofg
GA State Parks Open for Evacuees & Pets:
https://gastateparks.org/Alerts
Hurricane Guides:
Official Georgia Hurricane Guide
https://www.gachd.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Hurricane-Guide-April-2019.pdf
Official South Carolina Hurricane Guide
http://scemd.cdn.missc.net/media/1416/2019-hurricane-guide_website.pdf
Apps & Resources to keep you in the know & provide communication
National Hurricane Center
https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/#Dorian
FEMA App
https://www.fema.gov/mobile-app
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/
Show Me: A communication Tool for Emergency Shelters
A series of tools designed to enhance communication between individuals with communication challenges and public health/emergency personnel/volunteers during times of emergencies.
Nixel
Nixle keeps you up-to-date with relevant information from your local public safety departments & schools. This is a resource to stay up to date with
http://www.nixle.com/
GasBuddy
A resource to check gas stations to see if they have fuel or not.
http://tracker.gasbuddy.com/Default.aspx
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
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:
Gov. Henry McMaster Declares State of Emergency to Prepare for Potential Impact from Hurricane Dorian
https://www.scemd.org/news/gov-henry-mcmaster-declares-state-of-emergency-to-prepare-for-potential-impact-from-hurricane-dorian/
Gov. McMaster orders mandatory evacuations, school closures ahead of Dorian
https://www.live5news.com/2019/09/01/watch-live-gov-mcmaster-provide-update-hurricane-dorian-preps/
Governor Kemp has declared a State of Emergency for the following counties: Brantley, Bryan, Camden, Charlton, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, Pierce, and Wayne.
https://gema.georgia.gov/emergencies-0/hurricane-dorian
GA Gov. Brian Kemp lifts Chatham County Evacuation Order
https://www.wjbf.com/news/chatham-county-evacuation-order-lifted/
GA Gov. Brian Kemp orders 6 counties to evacuate – individuals east of Interstate 95 in Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Glynn, Liberty, and McIntosh Counties must evacuate due to Hurricane Dorian.
https://www.wrdw.com/content/news/559104201.html
GA Governor Kemp extends the State of Emergency to 21 Counties: Appling, Bacon, Brantley, Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Echols, Effingham, Evans, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, Pierce, Screven, Tattnall, Wayne and Ware.
https://gema.georgia.gov/emergencies-0/hurricane-dorian
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. You can also sign up to receive emergency alerts on your mobile device here.
- When directed by local authorities, you may be required to evacuate. Know your designated 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 or Georgia Emergency Management Agency 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 or the Georgia Department of Consumer Affairs Do not give any personal information, including credit card and bank account information, to unverified callers.