Depar tment of Communit y Super vision
“The opportunity to serve our communities in a time of
distress puts our mission at the forefront; We desire to be a
source of hope during difficult times.”
James Bergman
Special Operations Director
Event
Hurricane Michael Disaster Relief Efforts
—
Hurricane Michael made landfall on the
afternoon of October 10, 2018 as an extremely
dangerous Category 5 hurricane. It was
the first major hurricane to directly impact
Georgia since the 1890s.
In southwest Georgia, wind gusts as high
as 115 mph were recorded in Donalsonville.
Winds gusted over 70 mph in portions of
Central Georgia leading to widespread tree
damage, over 300,000 power outages, as well
as catastrophic damage to cotton and pecan
crops. The devastation of this natural disaster
may have resulted in great strife. However,
the response to this storm truly embodies
the unbreakable spirit of communities across
South Georgia.
In true DCS fashion, our response to assist
our fellow Georgians was swift, prepared,
and heartfelt. One hundred and sixty nine of
our officers joined forces with the American
Red Cross, Georgia Emergency Management
Agency,
and
numerous
other
relief
organizations to respond to the storm’s
destruction.
Several
special
operations
personnel served at the State Operations
Center helping to deploy resources to
ravaged
neighborhoods.
The
15-day
operational period witnessed our officers
working 12-hour shifts and providing 24/7
coverage. Additionally, officers responded to
11 requests for assistance from GEMA which
included:
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Law enforcement presence to secure
shelters for crime suppression
Securing emergency equipment
Curfew enforcement
Providing access control and security at
food and water distribution points
Assisting with roadway safety by creating
roadblocks, and creating passable traffic
routes
The spirit of cordiality and teamwork became
a driving force of goodwill as communities
worked to rebuild.