Hurricane Helene Employee Resources
Click on the plus sign to see more information about the topics below.
Employees facing immediate, emergency situations due to Hurricane Helene can text the SGMC Health Foundation at 229-590-3738 for employee assistance. This resource is available to employees who do not have adequate resources to address the issue. Examples of urgent needs include:
- Your family has been displaced and you have nowhere to go.
- A tree has fallen on your house, and you do not have the means to remove it.
- Any other situation where immediate assistance is required.
Text 229-590-3738 for assistance. Include your name, employee ID number, and details about your request.
Your safety is our top priority. If you need urgent help, do not hesitate to reach out.
As always, for medical emergencies, please dial 911.
As we move forward, we will no longer have large disaster relief distribution centers. However, we remain committed to supporting employees in need. There is access to continued assistance with food insecurity. Please work through your campus administrators and leaders for these resources.
Ice
Berrien and Lanier have bags of ice available for employees who need it. Please contact your manager to assist.
Charcoal/Lighter Fluid
Charcoal and lighter fluid are available at Berrien and Lanier campuses. Please contact your manager to assist.
Water
Cases of water are available for SGMC Health employees to pick up at the following locations.
- Langdale Place
- SGMC Health Main- Ambulatory Surgery Center Loading Dock
- Smith Northview Campus
- SGMC Health Lanier
- SGMC Health Berrien
- Langdale Hospice House
Access to a washer and dryer are available at the following locations for SGMC Health employees:
Please use the location closest to your home, regardless of which SGMC Health location you work.
SGMC Health Berrien
Text- 229-686-9752 between 8am-6pm to schedule time.
SGMC Health Smith Northview
Text- 229-415-0856 between 8am-6pm to schedule time.
SGMC Health Lanier
Text- 229-412-2512 between 8am-6pm to schedule time.
SGMC Health Employee & Immediate Family Shower Sign Up List
Process:
Employees must sign up for the number of immediate family members (residing in their household) who will be using the shower on the premises. The employee is responsible for escorting each family member to the available shower.
Each employee and family member should bring the following items:
- Shower shoes
- Towel and washcloth
- Laundry bag for dirty clothes
- Toiletries (e.g., soap, shampoo, lotion, etc.)
Expectations:
- Employees should sign up here with their employee ID # to reserve a spot based on the available days/times.
- Each person is allotted 30 minutes for their shower with a 15-minute buffer in between.
- After use, each family must clean the shower with the provided cleaning solution using gloves and place the used cleaning rags in the Blue Bag.
For questions, contact Sam Mitchell at 229-259-4080 or sam.mitchell@sgmc.org.
SGMC Health offers all employees access to free professional guidance for counseling, emotional support, financial planning, legal services, etc. through the Employee Assistance Program. Find more information here.
SGMC Health has partnered with Cannon Financial Strategists, a leading advisory firm specializing in retirement and financial planning. As part of your SGMC Health benefits package, Cannon will be offering Hurricane Disaster Relief presentations across multiple SGMC Health locations.
These presentations will focus on crucial topics related to financial assistance following a natural disaster, including:
- Sources of financial assistance after a natural disaster
- When and how to apply for each type of assistance
- Important steps and checklists for navigating the process
- Understanding homeowner’s insurance benefits and the claims process
- What FEMA Assistance can be used for and who is eligible
- When and how to tap into other sources of funding like liquid assets, loans, and retirement funds
After each presentation, there will be an open Q&A session for both group and individual questions.
We encourage you to attend these sessions to gain valuable insights and information that can assist you in times of need.
Please refer to the attached flyer for specific dates and locations. To better serve you, registration is required.
Register in NetLearning (search keywords “Financial Recovery After a Disaster”)
Understanding that ATM services are limited, SGMC Health will allow employees the ability to receive $40 cash back through the use of a debit card at the hospital registration desk at our Berrien and Lanier hospitals. This is limited to one transaction per employee. Employees must have their employee ID badge. If funds run out, we will attempt to replenish the cash supply at these locations.
DailyPay is a workplace benefit that allows you to access a portion of your paycheck prior to payday. For more information on DailyPay On-Demand Pay, click here.
We know it’s been a challenging time for many of us as we recover from the impact of Hurricane Helene. While most of us are back to work, we understand that many are still feeling the emotional and mental effects of such a severe event, as we continue to learn what our “new norm” is.
To support our staff, we have partnered with a disaster-relief organization called Americares, who is offering free individual wellness sessions to check in on how we’ve been doing since the hurricane.
Please note that Americares and their Mental Health Officers are independent of our orgnaization, and your sessions with them are completely confidential. Neither I nor any other SGMC staff member will ever be informed about when you schedule a session, what is discussed, etc. It is completely anonymous.
If you are interested in booking a session, please use the link below. It will show you the available days and times starting next week and beyond. Please note, for during the week and between the hours of 8AM-5PM, Mental Health officers Jen and Miguel are available. For any sessions after these hours and on the weekend, please book with Yvonne:
Book time with Yvonne Muzquiz, LPC: Wellness Check Ins
Book time with Miguel Marrero-Medina, PhD, MPH: Wellness Check Ins
Hurricane Helene Community Resources
Major disaster declarations have been approved by the federal government. If you sustained losses from Hurricane Helene and live in one of the designated counties, start your recovery process.
Take photos of your damages, make a list of lost items, contact your insurance agent to file a claim, & apply for assistance: disasterassistance.gov
FEMA Disaster Recovery Center Now Open in Lowndes County
If you’ve been impacted by Hurricane Helene and need to apply for Individual Assistance, FEMA has opened a DRC in Lowndes County:
4434 North Forrest Street Extension, Valdosta, GA 31605
Open Mon-Sat: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sun: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Visit for help with your application and recovery needs!
Any food assistance information will be updated as it becomes available.
Second Harvest of South Georgia
Second Harvest will be hosting a Point of Distribution on Saturday, October 12 beginning at 7:30am at Valdosta High School, 4590 Inner Perimeter Rd.
Stay updated for future food assistance by following Second Harvest of South Georgia on Facebook.
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army will be setting up meal sites at the following locations:
- The Salvation Army, 320 Smithland Pl., Valdosta, GA
- TJ Maxx Parking Lot, 1200 N Saint Augustine Rd., Valdosta, GA
- Flying Tiger Storage, 4036 Bemiss Rd., Valdosta, GA
- Park Ave. Shelter, 100 E. Park Ave., Valdosta, GA
- Winn Dixie, 3200 N Ashley St., Valdosta, GA
- Morven City Hall, 178 2nd St., Morven, GA
- Coastal Plain Headstart, 400 E. Courtland Ave., Quitman, GA
Quola Soup Kitchen
Free hot meal, water, and hygiene products from 11am-until, every day. Quola is located at 115 E Florida Ave in Downtown Valdosta.
Camp Rock of Georgia Foster Agency
- Location: 4407 Rocky Ford Rd., Valdosta, GA
- Offering: Laundry machines daily until power is restored
- Limits: 2 loads per household, bring your own detergent
- Hours: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Berrien County Emergency Management
Point of distribution for free supplies, including tarps, Meal Ready-to-Eat (MRE), water, and ice located at Nashville Elementary School from 8am-6pm. Enter from Dogwood and go behind the middle school. There is no entrance available on highway 125.
For power outages, please contact your power company directly for updates and assistance.
Refrigerated or frozen foods may not be safe to eat after the loss of power. Keep the fridge and freezer doors closed to maintain the cold as long as possible. Food in the refrigerator is safe for up to 4 hours during a power outage. Food in a full freezer will keep for 48 hours if you keep the door closed. (A half-full freezer lasts about 24 hours.)
Download the Gas Buddy app to find gas station locations near you. Locations that display a price per gallon are the stations with a current fuel supply.
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Team
The Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Team is deployed in the parking lot of Northside Baptist Church providing help for temporary roofing and tree removal. You can go by their command center at Northside Baptist Church, located at 200 E Park Ave in Valdosta, or call 1-800-806-6940 for assistance and information.
Samaritan’s Purse
Need assistance with disaster relief? Samaritan’s Purse is helping homeowners in our area that were affected by Hurricane Helene. Volunteers may be able to assist you with the following items listed below:
- Removal of Personal Property & Furniture
- Flood Cleanup
- Sanitizing with Shockwave Treatment
- Chainsaw work
- Temporary roof tarping
Call 833-747-1234 to speak with a Samaritan’s Purse representative. Also, they are looking for volunteers. Interested in helping? Visit: https://spvolunteer.org/
Crisis Cleanup Hotline
If you need assistance with storm-related damages, call the Crisis Cleanup Hotline at 844-965-1386. The hotline connects homeowners with volunteer groups who can help clean up debris and perform other recovery tasks. It is a collaborative disaster work order management platform that coordinates relief efforts by matching requests with volunteers from local faith communities, civic groups, and disaster response organizations. Their goal is to provide free help to those in need, ensuring a more organized and efficient cleanup process.
What help is available?
Residents can request assistance for:
Mucking out: Removing mud, silt, and debris from homes
Tree clearing: Cutting down and hauling away fallen or hazardous trees
Tarp installation: Covering roofs to prevent further damage
Debris removal: Clearing out broken materials, furniture, or storm wreckage
Note: Volunteers will bring the necessary tools and equipment to complete the work, and all services are free. However, due to high demand, service is not guaranteed.
What the hotline cannot assist with:
The hotline does not provide social services like food, clothing, or shelter and is not intended for questions regarding FEMA registration or insurance claims. For these needs, residents are advised to contact the appropriate agencies directly.
How long will it be available?
The hotline will remain active until Friday, Oct. 11. Residents needing assistance should call as soon as possible to be connected with available resources. For additional information and updates on the recovery process, visit CrisisCleanup.org.
General Motors’ Onstar
General Motors’ Onstar is offering complimentary services to some Georgia residents who drive Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac vehicles. It’s called “Crisis Mode”. When it’s activated, users will get in-vehicle Wi-Fi, turn-by-turn directions, help connecting to their loved ones, emergency rescue and evacuation services and more, all for free. An OnStar subscription is not required. Just push your blue OnStar button in your car to activate. Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac customers in the following Georgia counties are eligible for the complimentary services: Atkinson, Bacon, Baker, Berrien, Brooks, Calhoun, Clay, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Echols, Grady, Jeff Davis, Lanier, Lowndes, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Telfair, Thomas, Tift, and Worth.
Georgia Beer Co.
- Offering: AC, outlets to charge electronics, and high-speed internet beginning at 12pm.
Clearwave Fiber
Clearwave Fiber is offering free charging stations at the below locations. Bring your own device cords and power blocks.
Hahira Mobile Technology Unit
Fort Valley State University brought a Mobile Technology Unit to Hahira. It holds 20 people and is stocked with computers. It has also wi-fi and device charging capabilities. It will be open from 9am to 7pm at the Hahira Train Depot.
Starting Friday, October 4th, the Georgia Recovery Project team will be available from 10 AM to 3 PM in the Multi-Purpose Room of the City Hall Annex, 300 N Lee St, to provide emotional support and connect individuals with mental health services as needed.
How Can You Help Your Fellow Employees in Need?
Donate Your PTO to Another Employee
If you would like to aid another employee by donating PTO, you can do so by filling out the following form here.
Donate to Care Share
The Care Share fund is being used to provide immediate assistance to our employees in financial need after Hurricane Helene. If you would like to help, you can do so by donating to the Care Share Fund online today or signing up through payroll deduction here.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, SGMC Health is committed to supporting our employees during this challenging time. Please see the following important information. This page will be updated as more resources become available.