ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - Georgia Power provided tips on how to stay ready for a severe weather emergency.

Getting your home prepared

• Build an emergency supply kit with food, water, flashlights and medications to get you through at least three days.
• Charge phones, battery packs and anything else you rely on every day.
• Secure loose items around your home. Patio furniture, garbage cans and yard décor can easily turn into hazards in high winds.
• Plan for power outages by keeping freezer doors closed, unplugging appliances that may overload circuits and leave a porch light on once power is restored.
• Know your surroundings by checking flood maps, evacuation routes and how you will receive emergency alerts.

Before, during & after a hurricane threat

• Before a Storm: Stay aware, heed advice from officials and check out the weather forecast before heading outdoors. Check your emergency kit and family plan. Charge cell phones before the storm and unplug major appliances if you lose power.
• During a Storm: Take safe shelter inside a sturdy building away from windows and doors. Avoid contact with conductors of electricity—appliances, metal objects and water.
• After a Storm: Never touch any downed or low-hanging wire, including telephone or TV wires that touch a power line. Never pull tree limbs off power lines yourself or enter flooded areas or those with debris or downed trees as downed power lines may be buried in wreckage or hidden under standing water. Customers should call 911 or Georgia Power immediately if they see a fallen or low-hanging power line.

>> READ MORE: Atlantic hurricane season forecast to be milder than normal thanks to El Nino <<

The hurricane season runs through November 30. The National Weather Service predicts this will be a below-normal season. The National Weather Service also said warmer-than-average ocean temperatures in waters near the U.S. will support intensification of any hurricanes that do form, so we are not out of the clear yet.

The last hurricane to devastate our area was Hurricane Helene in 2024. Nearly 12,000 power poles were broken, over 5,800 transformers damaged, 1,500 miles of downed power lines and over 345 transmission structures rebuilt or repaired. Advanced smart-grid technology supported remote restoration, enabling crews to return service to more than 1 million customers within the first five days despite widespread devastation.

Georgia Power is continuing to strengthen grid reliability through its Grid Investment Program, investing $1.3 billion in system upgrades over the past three years. In 2025 alone, the company completed more than 100 distribution projects and advanced 25 major transmission improvements, enhancing service reliability for more than 500,000 customers statewide. These upgrades, including smart-grid technology, stronger infrastructure and undergrounding, are helping reduce outages and significantly speed restoration, particularly during major storms like Hurricane Helene.

For more details about how Georgia Power continues to improve reliability, visit GeorgiaPower.com/Grid.

You can also stay up to date about the latest weather information and any threats from our First Alert Weather Meteorologists online, on our apps or through our newscasts.

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