S.T.A.N.D.

Student Targeted Aid Natural Disaster Management Resource

This site is designed to be a resource page for families who have encountered or expect to encounter a natural disaster. Families should annually review Georgia Southern’s Emergency Information website. Students should also remember to keep their contact information updated on WINGS. This can be done by clicking Personal Settings in the WINGS box, then clicking Personal Information, then view address and phone numbers. The Financial Aid staff will also post messages on our Facebook and Instagram pages. To join us, type in “Georgia Southern University Office of Financial Aid” in search.

We will constantly update this page to help families who have been affected by natural disasters and help prepare for future natural disasters.

If you have any questions or comments, please email your contact information to the Office of Financial Aid (finaid@georgiasouthern.edu) with the subject as Natural Disasters. We will contact you as soon as possible.

Planning for the Worst

Floods

A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. However, in large quantities, this can cause a natural disaster. There are a few things you can do before, during, and after a flood.

For insurance and other information visit floodsmart.gov/floodsmart. To make a guide and see what to do for your family and pets, visit floodsmart.gov/floodsmart, and to read about flood clean-up, visit www.nchh.org.

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Hurricanes

A hurricane is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. There are several organizations dedicated to gathering information about hurricanes. It is important to know when and where a hurricane will strike. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/), and the All Hazards Monitor (weather.gov) are two of these sites. You should also make a plan and focus on being prepared (http://www.ready.gov/).

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Tornadoes

A tornado is a violent, rotating column of air which is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. To see weather conditions and possible tornado occurrences, visit http://www.spc.noaa.gov/. To make a plan and start preparing, go to Ready America or the National Hurricane center’s website.

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Drought

A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation. During a drought it is important to know about water conservation and what you can do. Visit Georgia Environmental Division for Georgia Outdoor Water Use information. Visit CoCoRaHS for the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, & Snow Network.

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Winter Storms

A winter storm is an event in which the dominant varieties of precipitation are forms that only occur at cold temperatures, such as snow or sleet, or a rainstorm where ground temperatures are cold enough to allow ice to form. During a winter storm, it is vital to know how to stay healthy and what you can do to be prepared. Visit the CDC to learn how to stay healthy and how to be prepared.

Resources for Recovery

State

• Visit the NASP Resources website for links to the official web sites of states which have experienced natural disasters in recent years.

Federal

• Information on all types of disasters, aid programs, and nationwide coverage of natural disasters can be found on the FEMA website at www.fema.gov.
• In many cases the government can help you with a natural disaster. Visit www.disasterassistance.gov to view the available programs.
• Disaster assistance programs collected by USDA

Local Media

• For hurricane information, listen to public radio station WSVH 91.1.
• To find the closest radio station in relation to you, visit the Glynn County Georgia website and scroll down to “peach state radio.”

Nonprofit

• Find a nonprofit organization near you.
• See a list of the health agencies around your area.
• The American Red Cross

Consumer Credit

• For counseling services: How to Recover from Natural Disasters.

Money Management

• Tips about tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, or earthquakes.
• The 360 degrees of Financial Literacy website offers information to help people and has a dedicated page with information on dealing with many difficult situations.
• Publication 547 – Casualties, Disaster and Thefts.

If you or someone you know is coping with disaster, visit the American Psychological Association to find out how you can help.