DOUGHERTY COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) – As hurricane season begins, Dougherty County is preparing for the possibility of a catastrophic storm.

Dougherty County’s deputy EMA Director James Brown said the county is taking proactive steps to ensure readiness.

“We’re preparing by reviewing our Disaster Recovery and Redevelopment Plan, as well as our Local Emergency Operations Plan,” Brown said. “We’re also making sure we have up-to-date contact information for our Emergency Operations Center.”

He continued, saying, “Dougherty County is what you call a ‘Storm Ready’ community — one that has demonstrated a high level of preparedness during severe storm events. Yes, we are ready. We are prepared.”

Your area can be on the left or right side of a storm. The right front quadrant is the worst. A few days before Helene hit, it appeared Albany would be on the wrong side of a Category 3 hurricane. WALB First Alert Meteorologist Tommie Owens says no matter what category the hurricane is projected to be, you should always be prepared and have a safety kit.

In 2018, Hurricane Michael became the first Category 3 hurricane to hit Georgia in a century. The agriculture community lost more than 2 billion in losses and property damage was extensive. That’s why the Deputy EMA director says you have to have an evacuation plan.

|READ MORE: WALB’s Hurricane Michael coverage|

“Make a family evacuation plan to get out of your home. Never ignore warnings. When you hear a warning, go ahead and prepare and get ready for the storm,” James Brown said.

Dougherty County is preparing for storms by updating emergency operation plans, ensuring call techs and screeners are prepared, and keeping the emergency operation center ready to handle the impact of any storm.

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