When Hurricane Helene struck Augusta in late September 2024, leaders at Augusta University (AU) were forced to respond quickly to the unexpected impact of the storm. Joe Webber, director of AU’s Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response, described tracking the hurricane overnight with emergency managers and the National Weather Service. As conditions worsened, he gathered his family for safety while monitoring developments online.
The university had been following weather updates throughout the week, initially expecting the storm to pass west of Augusta. However, President Russell T. Keen decided during a cabinet meeting on September 26 to cancel classes for the following day as rain arrived earlier than expected.
Reflecting on the aftermath, Keen said, “When Karen and I think back on the events surrounding Hurricane Helene, we can’t help but be amazed at the resilience and compassion shown by our students, faculty, staff, alumni and the citizens of this city. In the wake of one of the most devastating natural disasters to impact our area, so many came together to support one another, and that spirit of unity was truly a testament to our shared commitment to changing lives,” adding appreciation for those who sent supplies or helped with recovery efforts.
Webber recounted surveying damage at his home before heading to campus using borrowed equipment from neighbors. The scene at Summerville Campus was difficult: “Obviously, it’s a gut punch, and it’s terrible,” Webber said. “And there were a lot of emotions, but at that particular point in time, I was focused and didn’t have a whole lot of bandwidth for emotions. To absorb the impact of the history on campus – we lost champion trees, and I’m a forester – but I didn’t have the emotional availability then, because there were life safety issues.”
Ensuring student safety became an immediate priority. Susan Davies, PhD—then executive vice president for Enrollment and Student Affairs—recalled being unreachable due to cell service outages until colleague Scott Wallace managed to reach her in person. Together they joined other staff members on campus to check on students in residence halls.
Davies noted how student leaders played a key role: “One of the things that impressed me most about our campus community is that our student leaders really stepped up to take care of their peers. Our resident assistants had a lot of work on them. I think they’re the unsung heroes in all of this,” she said.
As water supply disruptions became apparent over the weekend following Helene’s landfall, AU arranged for remaining students living on campus to be evacuated by bus to Gordon State College until conditions improved.
Staff across departments contributed wherever needed during recovery efforts. Facilities Services addressed extensive damage across multiple campuses caused by fallen trees.
Looking back nearly a year later, Webber encouraged ongoing preparedness among students and staff: “‘What have I done differently in the past 11 and a half months? Am I any more prepared for…a severe storm…now than I was then?’ That’s the hard question we have to ask ourselves…There are programs out there that can guide you through being more prepared, but the answer is taking accountability and making a commitment,” he said.
Webber remains proud of AU’s response: “My main takeaway from the experience of Helene…is the amount of dedication that was demonstrated by people to the institution…and what Augusta University means…to our community,” he said.
