Douglas County Emergency Management

06/01/2026

Extreme drought conditions still exist, despite continued rain. Please continue to exercise caution.

Wet conditions have led to improvement in drought conditions across north and central Georgia over the last week. While areas of D3-D4 drought continue to shrink across our area, rainfall totals through the last several months remains well below normal and below surface soils remain dry.

05/31/2026

📣📣 June 2026 Test Reminder 📣📣

We will test Douglas County's Weather Warning Sirens this Wednesday at noon if weather permits.

Douglas County EMA, in cooperation with Douglas County E-911, tests the county's Weather Warning Sirens at noon on the first Wednesday of each month if the weather allows. If weather conditions are questionable or would cause confusion about the sirens' activation, the test will be cancelled. We'll do our best to post an update if the test is cancelled, but please keep in mind that our workload may prevent that from happening.

05/18/2026

🔥 Why Are Firefighters Still Out There? This is why.

What you’re seeing in this photo is a reburn caused by needlecast—a common wildfire challenge in Georgia’s pine forests.

Needlecast happens when dry pine needles fall in thick layers across the forest floor. Those needles create highly flammable fuel that can hold heat, smolder unnoticed, and reignite long after the main fire front has passed.

That’s exactly why mop-up operations are so critical.

Even when containment numbers improve and flames are no longer making headlines, hidden heat can remain. A single hotspot in heavy needlecast can flare back up, cross containment lines, and put firefighters, nearby communities, and property at risk all over again.

This photo was taken a couple of days ago on the Highway 82 Fire—a reminder that these are still active incidents, and the work is not done.

Mop-up may not be the most visible part of wildfire response, but it is some of the most important work our crews do.

Fighting fire. Protecting forests. Serving Georgia.

05/15/2026

May is National Electrical Safety Month, and Cobb County Fire & Emergency Services wants to remind our community that small safety habits can help prevent serious fires and injuries at home.

Here are a few simple electrical safety tips:
• Avoid overloading outlets or power strips
• Replace damaged or frayed cords immediately
• Keep cords away from rugs, furniture, and walkways
• Use extension cords only as a temporary solution
• Keep anything flammable away from heat-producing appliances
• Have a licensed electrician inspect flickering lights or frequently tripped breakers
• Test smoke alarms monthly to ensure they are working properly

Electrical fires can happen quickly, but many are preventable with regular maintenance and safe habits.

Stay aware. Stay prepared. Stay safe.

05/13/2026

We're just trying to keep up 🤷‍♀️

05/10/2026

We've reached the end of 🌀National Hurricane Preparedness Week🌀, but we're only just getting started with hurricane season.

Today's topic is: 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬

What have we learned this week?

We've learned that 𝗛𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺, and hurricane season runs from JUNE 1st to NOVEMBER 30th.

We learned the risks of flood waters and high winds, and how to prepare before hurricane season.
We learned how to interpret forecasts and alerts, and know what to do before, during, and after a storm.

If you have ANY questions, Douglas County, you can always reach out to us.

For more resources and advice, check out:
https://www.noaa.gov/take-action-today

05/09/2026

It's 🌀National Hurricane Preparedness Week🌀
𝗛𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺, Douglas County. Friendly reminder, Hurricane Helene came 500 miles inland in 2024. Each day we'll be sharing information to help YOU prepare for and stay safe during hurricane season.

Today's topic is: 𝗨𝗦𝗘 𝗖𝗔𝗨𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗔𝗙𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗠𝗦
⁉️ Did you know that nearly HALF of hurricane fatalities occur 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 the storm?⁉️
Blue skies don't mean you can let your guard down.

📢 If you evacuated, ONLY return home when officials say it is safe.

🏠 Walk carefully around the outside of your home to check for:
- Loose power lines on the ground, dangling overhead, or in the water.
- Gas leaks.
🗣️ If you find either, immediately get away, call 911, and alert those around you.

Don't walk or drive through flooded water:
🌊 It only takes 6 inches of water to sweep away a person, and 12 inches to sweep away a car.
🦠 Flood waters can contain dangerous bacteria, chemicals, and debris.

Clean up safely:
🚰 Stay hydrated, go slowly, take lots of breaks. Work in the cooler hours, if possible.
🤝 Check on elderly and other vulnerable neighbors.
🌡️ Watch for signs of heat stress and heat stroke.

⚠️ 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲! 𝗡𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗳 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻. Carbon monoxide poisoning is one of the leading causes of death in areas dealing with power outages! ⚠️

For more resources and advice, check out:
https://www.noaa.gov/use-caution-after-storms

05/08/2026

It's 🌀National Hurricane Preparedness Week🌀
𝗛𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺, Douglas County. Friendly reminder, Hurricane Helene came 500 miles inland in 2024. Each day we'll be sharing information to help YOU prepare for and stay safe during hurricane season.

Today's topic is: 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗬 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗗𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗠𝗦

STAY AWAY FROM FLOODED AREAS
🏠 Avoid travel unless ordered to evacuate.
🚷 Don't walk through flood waters. It only takes 6 inches of water to sweep away a person, and flood waters often contain dangerous bacteria, chemicals, and debris.
🚗 Don't drive across water-covered roads. It only takes 12 inches of water to sweep away a car, and you don't know how stable the ground is under the water.

WEATHER ALERTS AND FORECAST UPDATES
📡 Rely on official forecasts and established media partners, like the National Hurricane Center https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ and US National Weather Service Peachtree City Georgia.
📲 Sign up for AlertDouglas for Douglas County-specific emergency information. Make sure you have Wireless Emergency Alerts enabled on your phone.
📻 Make sure your weather radio is powered and working.

EVACUATIONS
⌛ If told to evacuate, do so immediately.
📍 Follow recommended evacuation routes.
⚠️ Be alert for washed-out roads/bridges and downed power lines.

For more resources and advice, check out:
https://www.noaa.gov/stay-protected-during-storms