The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched a new website to support communities affected by Hurricane Helene. This online resource will provide real-time updates on the EPA's response and recovery efforts in regions most impacted, including Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
Acting Region 4 Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle stated, "As we work to assist the communities impacted by Hurricane Helene with recovery, this website will be a vital resource for the latest updates on our response efforts." She emphasized that the EPA is collaborating with federal, state, local, and Tribal partners to deliver necessary support for rebuilding and recovery while focusing on public health protection and environmental restoration.
The EPA's current activities in response to Hurricane Helene include damage assessment of drinking water and wastewater systems to ensure critical infrastructure is restored quickly. The agency is also involved in disaster debris management and hazardous materials management to protect both residents and the environment.
To aid these efforts, teams from the EPA's regional and national operations centers have been deployed. Coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is ongoing as part of the federal response strategy. Personnel are stationed at FEMA’s National Response Coordination Center as well as Regional Response Coordination Centers to provide essential support for Emergency Support Functions (ESF). Mobile drinking water labs and emergency generators have also been dispatched to assist affected communities.
Key deployments include landfill strike teams and a mobile drinking water lab in Chiefland, Florida; personnel supporting emergency operations centers in Georgia; and Emergency Rapid Response Services contractors working on hazardous materials management in Asheville, North Carolina. Additionally, water damage assessment teams are partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to evaluate drinking water systems.
For further information on preparedness tips and resources related to EPA’s response efforts for Hurricane Helene, individuals can visit the newly launched website. The public is also encouraged to download the FEMA App for real-time alerts regarding emergency shelter locations and recovery center information.
Updates about EPA activities in the Southeast can be followed through their social media channels on XExit EPA’s website, FacebookExit EPA’s website, and InstagramExit EPA’s website.
