Monday, October 7, 2024: Our team is home safe.
We’re happy to report that our Disaster Response Team has safely returned after providing crucial aid to areas impacted by Hurricane Helene. In coordination with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA), the team distributed water, pet food, and essential supplies to shelters in Augusta, Burke, and Jefferson counties—areas hit hardest by the storm.
Thanks to this effort, shelters are now better equipped to care for animals in need as they continue their recovery. We’re incredibly proud of the team’s hard work and the support from our community that made it all possible.
Thank you for helping us make a difference when it mattered most.
If you haven’t already, it’s not too late to support our Disaster Response Team’s efforts. As Hurricane Milton makes it’s way towards Florida, our team is already in contact with local organizations so we can be prepared to provide help as needed.
Thursday, October 3, 2024: We are supporting our Georgia communities.
Our Disaster Response Team is on the ground right now, providing essential aid to animals and communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. With severe flooding and power outages still impacting the Southeast, we’re dedicated to helping our state’s shelters and animal facilities recover from the storm’s devastation.
Working in close coordination with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA), we’re visiting affected areas to assess damage and offer assistance to shelters in need.
For the past two days, our Disaster Response Team has been focusing on local facilities like Augusta Animal Care and Control, where we’ve already provided medical support and distributed emergency food supplies.
Now, they are headed south to help the communities of Burke and Jefferson counties, where our Community Outreach Team has already delivered food to shelters in need.
Our priority remains to serve and support Georgia’s animals and families during this challenging time, ensuring they get the help they need right here at home.
If you’d like to help us continue these rescue efforts, please donate now.
Monday, September 30, 2024: We deploy to Augusta tomorrow.
We’re mobilizing to provide support to areas impacted by Hurricane Helene. Tomorrow morning, our Disaster Response Team will depart for Augusta. From there, they will head to the coast and southeastern areas of Georgia to assess damage and coordinate help for animals and communities affected by the storm.
At the same time, our partners from American Humane are staging in Baton Rouge and heading to Waycross, GA. By starting in different locations and working towards each other, Atlanta Humane and American Humane will strategically cover as much impacted territory as possible.
Our team is scheduled to assist with these efforts through the coming weekend, but this timeline may change based on needs on the ground. Additionally, we may receive secondary assignments after clearing the first wave of territory.
Please donate now to support our deployment. Every dollar counts as we work to bring relief to those suffering in the aftermath of this storm.
Sunday, September 29, 2024: Our team is awaiting an assignment.
As recovery efforts continue in the wake of Hurricane Helene, our thoughts are with those affected by the storm. While lifesaving operations in the hardest-hit areas remain the immediate priority, our Disaster Response Team has been in continuous communication with state and local partners.
The state is still assessing the damage, with over 100 roads in Georgia impassable, and many areas in southern counties remain without power or road access.
Our team is prepared for two possible missions:
- Assessment Team: A small team, including a vet, could be deployed to assess facilities and animal needs, report back to state channels, and assist with triage or medical emergencies if needed.
- Sheltering Team: If requested, we may assist with daily care for animals at an emergency shelter. The timeline and scope of this mission will depend on the state’s request.
Our team is ready to deploy at any moment, as we expect to have a clear mission assigned soon.
Thank you for your continued support as we remain ready to help animals and communities in need. We will provide further updates as we receive more information.
Friday, September 27, 2024: Our animals are safe.
At the Atlanta Humane Society, we’re grateful to share that our shelter and animals remain safe. Yesterday, 20 animals were placed in temporary foster homes, allowing them to ride out the storm in cozy, loving environments. Our dedicated staff stayed overnight to care for the remaining animals, ensuring they were safe and comfortable throughout the night.
Our building weathered the storm well—there’s some standing water in the walking trail and sensory garden, but we’re happy to report that the building stayed dry, and we never lost power.
Additionally, our Disaster Response Team is still in close contact with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) and awaiting assignments to deploy and assist communities in need once it’s safe to do so.
Thank you to our incredible team, fosters, and supporters for helping us keep our animals safe. We’ll continue to monitor the situation and provide updates!
Thursday, September 26, 2024
With Hurricane Helene approaching, the Atlanta Humane Society will close to the public at 3 PM today. Our incredible team will stay overnight to care for all the animals, including a group of sweet puppies currently fighting parvo. We’ve taken every step to prepare, ensuring our animals are safe and our staff is ready.
Our Disaster Response Team has been on daily calls with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency and are keeping in close communication with our partners across the southeast. Once the storm passes, they are prepared to help rescue animals and bring relief to communities in need.
As we brace for the storm, we’ll continue to monitor the situation closely and keep you updated. Please stay safe.