Resources for Georgia Communities and Cultural Organizations Impacted by Hurricane Helene

Resources for Georgia Communities and Cultural Organizations Impacted by Hurricane Helene

Our hearts go out to the people and communities across Georgia affected by Hurricane Helene!

Below, we’ve compiled a list of resources to assist in your recovery. We will continue to update this post as new information and resources become available. If you have suggestions to add, please contact our communications director, Stephanie Devine.

To our statewide network of grantees, partners, and all those working to preserve our state’s history and culture—we understand that the road to rebuild may be only just beginning. When you’re ready, please reach out to our grants coordinator, Jerald Crook, to let us know how you’re doing and if you have any unmet needs. We may be able to help connect you with additional support.

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For Individuals, Families, and Communities

Emergency Assistance Resources

A Major Disaster Declaration has been made for Georgia, with FEMA Public Assistance Grants available for Category A (debris removal) and Category B (emergency protective measures) in select counties. Individual Assistance is also available for households in a number of counties.

GEMA has also created a list of vital information and resources for Georgia’s communities, including shelter and food locations, points of distribution (POD), SNAP benefits, crisis cleanup, and other ways to help.

Salvage and Preservation Resources

The Heritage Emergency National Task Force (HENTF), co-sponsored by FEMA and the Smithsonian Institution, works to protect cultural and historic resources in our nation’s states, tribes, territories, and local communities from the damaging effects of disasters.

For more information on salvaging personal belongings, members of the public can find guidance for preserving water-damaged documents, family heirlooms, and personal collections through FEMA’s Save Your Family Treasures initiative, available in multiple languages:

 

For Cultural Organizations

Emergency Assistance and Damage Assessment

All impacted cultural organizations in Georgia are encouraged to complete HENTF’s Rapid Damage Assessment Form for Cultural Institutions. The information gathered will help HENTF identify where assistance is sought, direct assistance where needed, understand critical needs, and inform how recovery efforts move forward.

Salvage and Preservation Resources

The National Heritage Responders (NHR) respond to the needs of cultural institutions and the public during emergencies and disasters through coordinated efforts with first responders, state agencies, vendors, and the public.

If your collections have been damaged, call the National Heritage Responders hotline at 202-661-8068. A team of trained conservators and collections care professionals administered by the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation are available 24/7 to provide advice and guidance.

The Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) also offers 24/7 emergency hotline advice and resources for a variety of disaster challenges, including water, mold, and fire.

  • Call the NEDCC Emergency Hotline: 1-855-245-8303

 

For Artists and Arts Organizations

Emergency Assistance and Damage Assessment

The National Coalition for Arts Preparedness and Emergency Response (NCAPER) is a voluntary task force that works to ensure that artists, arts/cultural organizations, cultural funders, and arts businesses can respond effectively to disasters and emergencies affecting the arts and culture sector.

Impacted artists and arts organizations are encouraged to complete NCAPER Rapid Impact Assessment Forms to help identify where assistance is needed and inform how recovery efforts progress.

NCAPER also offers a downloadable field guide in English and Spanish to help demystify federal disaster relief for the arts and culture sectors.

Grants and Financial Support

The Craft Emergency Relief Fund CERF+ offers $3,000 Emergency Relief Grants to craft artists who experienced a recent and substantially disruptive emergency or disaster. To qualify for an Emergency Relief Grant, applicants need to be craft artists 18 years of age or older, who have lived and worked in the U.S. for the past two years.

 

For What Comes Next

Disaster Preparedness and Recovery

Our partners at Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (LEH) have developed the free resource “Disaster Preparedness and Response: A Resource Guide for Cultural Institutions,” which provides information on disaster readiness, planning, response, and recovery that is relevant to organizations nationwide. The guide also includes templates for emergency supply lists, staff procedures, and site checklists that may be useful to your organization now or in the future.

 

For Anyone Who Wants to Help

Volunteer

If you want to volunteer your time to help in the Hurricane Helene recovery, you can fill out an application with GEMA. An organization will reach out to you if they need your service.

Give

If you’d like to contribute financially to support communities impacted in Georgia, here is a list of areas and organizations where donations will be greatly appreciated:

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