Throughout Hurricane Helene and its aftermath, F&A staff members showed unwavering dedication and support. Many of you worked late hours on Thursday, Sept. 26 and Friday, Sept. 27, ensuring that essential needs for operations were met. After the storm passed, you responded swiftly to help clear debris, assess damage, and support not only Athens but also our extended campus communities—especially Tifton, which faced more severe impacts, flooding, and power outages.
Our Auxiliary Services team kept the campus running smoothly. Dining Services staff remained on site to ensure students had access to meals, even extending hours to support those staying overnight. They went above and beyond by delivering food and water to Augusta University first responders who were assisting with their cleanup efforts. Transportation and Parking Services continued to operate buses safely until the conditions required closure and contacted students parked in flood-prone areas, providing them with safer parking alternatives.
The Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP) worked around the clock behind the scenes, staffing the Emergency Operations Center throughout the storm and coordinating responses while the campus was closed. After the storm passed, they continued to assist our colleagues at Augusta University remotely. Both OEP and the Office of Insurance and Claims Management traveled to the UGA Tifton campus to support recovery efforts. These teams are planning additional trips to assess the damage at UGA extension campuses and to help farms in South Georgia as they rebuild and recover from the hurricane’s effects.
The Facilities Management Division prepared extensively before the storm, inspecting drains, securing materials, and staging equipment across campus. They housed 33 staff members overnight to ensure a quick response, addressing downed trees and roof leaks and clearing debris as soon as conditions allowed. By Friday afternoon, the team had restored much of the campus, ensuring it was safe for the community. They also continued to support essential operations in Dining and Housing, with Dining Services extending hospitality to FMD staff during their recovery work.
Our UGA Police Department stepped up to help beyond our campus, sending two officers to assist Augusta University Police with patrol shifts. Meanwhile, our Public Safety team helped coordinate emergency operations and ensure seamless communication with UGA’s central Marketing and Communications team.
Each of you played an essential role in our response and recovery efforts. Whether you were directly involved or supported these actions from behind the scenes, your hard work and dedication are a testament to why we do what we do here in Finance and Administration. You truly “Elevate the G” and prove that our community can depend on you in times of crisis.
On behalf of the F&A Senior Leadership Team, I want to express my deepest gratitude for all that you have done and continue to do. Your dedication and efforts are not only deeply appreciated but are also critical to the safety and well-being of our entire UGA community.
Thank you,
Ryan Nesbit
Vice President for Finance and Administration
