Viewpoint: Rebuilding Hope After the Storm
D'Arcy Robb, GCDD Executive Director“Honey, those are sopping wet,” I said as my daughter carried in the Halloween decorations the day before Hurricane Helene. “Go hang them in the laundry room to dry.”
A few minutes later, she called, “Mom, the floor in here is wet already.”
Oh boy. Those are words you never want to hear. It was the beginning of Hurricane Helene and the flood in our basement.
Thankfully, my family is safe, my home is standing, and my power is on. Without it, our damage would have been so much worse. For all of that, I am incredibly lucky. And yet – I’m not going to lie to you, our basement flood has been stressful, disruptive and hard. It uncovered asbestos, so it will take some time to put things to rights.
I’m beyond grateful to my neighbors for lending me fans and dehumidifiers, my staff for stepping in when I had to step back, and my husband and daughter for navigating it all right there with me. I’m grateful to the staff at Home Depot that schooled me in the fine art of wet vacuuming and to my mom for assuring me that it’s normal to feel stunned and to every single person that made me laugh or sent a message of support.
And then I read the stories from Georgia communities like Valdosta, Sandersville, and Augusta and my heart flipped inside out.
Hurricane Helene and now Hurricane Milton have both devastated the southeast region of the United States, including Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. Amid all these crises and devastation, the National Guard, first responders, and countless volunteers are working together in each of these states to rebuild communities and to get resources and assistance to those who are in dire need.
The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) has been very fortunate that, although some of us were affected by Hurricane Helene, all the staff is alive and well. As of this writing, there are thousands of Georgians, including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are still without resources, food, and electrical power.
Below is a list of resources that Georgians, including the disability community, who are still in need of assistance can benefit from:
The Disability and Disaster Hotline
Call 1-800-626-4959 or email
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross has opened shelters and feeding centers in areas affected by Hurricane Helene. Click here to view their disaster relief and recovery resources.
Crisis Clean Up
Crisis Clean Up offers free services to those needing help with cleaning up hurricane-related damages. Call 844-965-1386 or visit their website to be connected with volunteer groups.
DBHDD Office of Disaster Mental Health Services
Kalie Burke, MPH, is the Mental Health Coordinator for the GA Emergency Preparedness Coalition for Individuals with Disabilities & Older Adults. For assistance, contact her at 404-416-2829 or via her email at .
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Serious Needs Assistance
FEMA provides help for disaster-related expenses like food, water, baby formula, and other emergency supplies. Click here to access their quick reference guide.
Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA)
GEMA offers resources on disaster recovery, including information on SNAP benefits and assistance from the Red Cross. Click here to view their response to Hurricane Helene.
For more information and resources, visit our web page of Georgia Hurricane Helene Resources.
While I am not happy that my basement got flooded, I am happy that I could rely on my community to help me, and my family get things back in order when I needed them most! On behalf of the whole GCDD team, I hope you are safe, well, and getting the support you need after the storm.
D’Arcy Robb
Executive Director
GCDD