Preparing for Hurricane Season: Essential Tips from Georgia Power

As the Atlantic hurricane season opens, lasting until November 30, Georgia Power emphasizes the importance of stepping into this period with preparedness. With recent weather predictions due to an intensifying El Niño indicating potentially fewer hurricanes, there remain significant concerns regarding the strength of any storms that do form. This time of year can unleash severe rain, strong winds, and flooding, impacting both coastal and inland areas significantly.

Reflecting on past hurricanes, particularly Hurricane Helene in 2024, which became the most destructive storm to hit Georgia Power’s grid, the need for preparedness has never been more evident. The devastation from Helene was staggering, damaging thousands of power poles, transformers, and miles of power lines, which necessitated extensive rebuilding of infrastructure. Despite the extensive damage, Georgia Power’s innovative smart-grid technologies enabled rapid restoration of power to over a million customers shortly after the storm. This initiative provides a stark reminder of the necessity to prepare adequately for hurricanes.

Key Upgrades to the Grid

Georgia Power has invested heavily in advancing its grid reliability through its Grid Investment Program, allocating an impressive $1.3 billion in upgrades over the past three years. In just last year (2025), the company executed more than 100 distribution projects and 25 major transmission enhancements, directly benefiting over half a million customers statewide. These efforts include implementing smart-grid technologies, reinforcing power infrastructure, and even moving some lines underground to minimize interruptions during adverse weather conditions.

Tami Barron, Georgia Power’s senior vice president of distribution, stated, “The work we've done to strengthen and modernize our grid is directly improving how we prepare for and respond to hurricanes. These investments are not just about keeping the lights on; they are about ensuring our customers feel secure through any storm we face.”

Getting Your Home Ready

To safeguard your home and family, start gathering an emergency supply kit. This should include essentials such as food, water, flashlights, medications, and other necessities to sustain each family member for at least three days. Ensuring all of your electronic devices are charged, especially your phones and backup batteries is crucial in case of power loss.

Additionally, securing outdoor items including patio furniture, rubbish bins, and gardening ornaments is fundamental to prevent them from becoming dangerous projectiles in high winds. Preparing for potential power outages includes strategies like keeping freezer doors closed to maintain cold temperatures, unplugging appliances that may cause circuit overloads, and leaving a porch light on when power restoration is connected.

Safety Before, During, and After the Storm

Before a Storm: Stay vigilant and heed the guidance from local authorities. Familiarize yourself with local flood maps and evacuation routes. Ensure you have charged cell phones, confirm your emergency kit is intact, and unplug non-essential appliances.

During a Storm: Safety is paramount. Stay indoors in a robust structure, avoiding windows and glass doors. Stay away from electrified objects like appliances and metal fixtures.

After a Storm: Exercise extreme caution. Avoid touching any downed wires, whether they are power, phone, or television lines, as they can be life-threatening. Contact the authorities immediately to report fallen lines or hazardous conditions in your area.

Stay Informed and Connected

Staying connected during hurricane season is vital. Download the Georgia Power mobile app, which offers real-time storm and outage information. Enroll in the free Georgia Power Outage Alert system for immediate updates via text notifications regarding your specific area. Furthermore, keep up with outage statuses through Georgia Power’s interactive Outage Map found on their website.

Engaging with Georgia Power on social media platforms can also provide valuable storm-related information and updates. With these preparedness measures in place, residents can not only be ready but also resilient against the challenges posed by the hurricane season.

For additional resources and tips on how to prepare for storms and understand outage management, visit GeorgiaPower.com/Storm.

A Commitment to Service

Georgia Power stands as the largest electric utility in Georgia, serving nearly 2.8 million customers across the state. The company is dedicated to providing reliable, safe, and affordable energy—utilizing a mix of generation sources, including nuclear, natural gas, and renewables. Their commitment to customer satisfaction is evident as they continue to innovate and enhance energy services for their customers, further solidifying their standing as an industry leader.

Visit GeorgiaPower.com for more insights and updates.