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Georgia hurricane guide

The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) coordinates the state's response to hurricanes and other disasters, working with the local emergency management agency in each county. Georgia's coast can face storm surge, and hurricanes can cause serious damage hundreds of miles inland, so every resident should know the risk and have a plan. Start with your county page, follow local officials, and use these statewide services for evacuation zones, roads, weather, and power outages.

Checked on October 8, 2026

Every phone number and web address on this page was checked against official sources on that date. Details can change, especially during a storm. Always follow instructions from the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency. In a life threatening emergency, call 911.

Counties

Choose your county. Each county page has its emergency numbers, evacuation zones, and shelters, and lists its cities and towns.

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More places are on the way. Until yours is listed, see the official sources page or call 211.

Emergency and information numbers

Service Number Notes
Emergency 911 Police, fire, and ambulance. Call only when someone's life or property is in danger.
Road and traffic conditions (511) 511 Free real-time road conditions and closures from the Georgia Department of Transportation.
Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency office 404-635-7200 Office line. Not for emergencies. Also 1-800-879-4362 (1-800-TRYGEMA). Open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern.
Georgia Power downed lines and outages 1-888-891-0938 To report a downed power line, call this number or 911. Stay away from any downed line and assume it is live. You can also report an outage online or in the Georgia Power app.
211 (United Way) 211 Free help finding services. Find your local 211 on 211.org. In the 13 county Greater Atlanta area, United Way of Greater Atlanta answers calls Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and takes texts of your ZIP code and need to 898211.

Official alerts and information

  • Wireless Emergency Alerts and county alert systems (GEMA/HS): GEMA/HS advises having several ways to get alerts, including one that can wake you at night. Counties use sirens or phone notification systems, so ask your county emergency management director which one yours uses. See your county page. Website.

Statewide resources

  • Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency: State news, hurricane safety, and preparedness guides. Website.
  • Hurricane safety (GEMA/HS): What to do before, during, and after a hurricane, including when to evacuate. Links to the Official Georgia Hurricane Guide. Website.
  • Ready Georgia: The state's preparedness campaign, with steps to make a plan, build a kit, and plan to evacuate, including help for pets and for people with access and functional needs. Website.
  • Know Your Hurricane Evacuation Zone (GEMA/HS): Interactive map. Search an address or use your location to find your hurricane evacuation zone and county. Website.
  • Hurricane Safety and Evacuation Routes (GDOT): Georgia DOT's hurricane page, with an evacuation route map and I-16 contraflow information. If a mandatory evacuation is ordered for coastal Georgia, I-16 eastbound lanes reverse so that all lanes carry traffic west from Savannah to U.S. 441 in Dublin. Website.
  • Georgia 511 (GDOT): Live road conditions, closures, cameras, and message signs, on the web or by calling 511. Website.
  • National Hurricane Center: Official forecasts, watches, and warnings for Atlantic hurricanes. Website.
  • National Weather Service Atlanta/Peachtree City: Forecasts and warnings for north and central Georgia. Office phone 770-486-1133. Website.
  • National Weather Service Charleston, SC: Forecast office for the Charleston, South Carolina area. Check weather.gov and enter your ZIP code to see which office covers you. Website.
  • National Weather Service Jacksonville, FL: Forecast office for the Jacksonville, Florida area. Check weather.gov and enter your ZIP code to see which office covers you. Website.
  • National Weather Service Tallahassee, FL: Forecast office for the Tallahassee, Florida area. Check weather.gov and enter your ZIP code to see which office covers you. Website.
  • National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg, SC (Greer): Forecast office for the Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina area. Check weather.gov and enter your ZIP code to see which office covers you. Website.
  • Georgia Power Outage and Storm Center: Report an outage, check status, view the outage map, and learn how power is restored. Georgia Power customers can also text REG to GAPWR (42797) to sign up for outage alerts. Website.
  • Georgia Power outage map: Map of current Georgia Power outages. If your power comes from an electric membership corporation (EMC) or a city utility, contact that utility directly. Website.
  • Business re-entry permits (GEMA/HS): Georgia's statewide re-entry system. Businesses that need access to a disaster zone apply through the state. Website.

Evacuation zones

Georgia's coastal counties have hurricane evacuation zones. Use the GEMA/HS map to find your zone and county, then follow evacuation orders from your county. GEMA/HS says to evacuate if local authorities direct you to, if you live in a mobile home or high-rise, or if you live on the coast, on a floodplain, near a river, or on an island waterway.

Look up your evacuation zone

Evacuation centers

Open only when announced

Evacuation centers open only when officials announce them, and not every center opens for every storm. Check the official list of open centers before you leave home. Bring your own bedding, food, water, and medicines.

Shelters open only when officials announce them. Check your county page and your county emergency management agency for open shelters. GEMA/HS notes that public shelters cannot accept pets, only service animals, so plan ahead for a pet friendly hotel or a stay with family or friends.

Help to evacuate

  • Plan to Evacuate (Ready Georgia): If you do not have a car, GEMA/HS says to make arrangements with family, friends, or your local government before a storm. Contact your county emergency management agency. See your county page. Website.

Sources

Checked on October 8, 2026. If a number or address here is wrong, please tell us at Keith@KMyers.me.