Metro Atlanta volunteers prepare to help Debby victims in south Georgia

KENNESAW, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Sometimes, all someone might need is a simple shower.

Michael O’Brien understands that. That’s why he founded Serve Comm, a nonprofit organization that stands at the ready to deploy resources.

He knows he could get that call to come to south Georgia any minute now.

“Typically we bring showers, laundry and food. Also, we have the ability to have internet,” O’Brien said.

Tropical Storm Debby is a slow-moving system and is bringing heavy rain and flooding to parts of south Georgia.

Metro Atlanta sending resources to south Georgia to aid with storm damage

“If you think about how long it would take you to walk across your county, that’s about how long it’s going to take this storm to move through your county,” said Chris Stallings, director of the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency.

O’Brien said he is ready to help his neighbors. He’s been doing it since 2018.

“One of the reasons why I do this is, if something happened in my own community, there are a lot of people I can call for some favors who’d have help here immediately,” said O’Brien.

“We don’t need just teddy bears. A lot of people are going to lose valuable stuff, basic necessities,” said Stallings.

Stallings said GEMA is ready to respond as well, with utility crews and other nonprofits ready to help people impacted by Debby.

“We began prepositioning resources and allocating stockpiles of stuff to those counties we thought would be the hardest hit,” said Stallings.

The group Sirens Project told Atlanta News First they also stand at the ready to deploy resources if needed. They are located in Woodstock.

MORE COVERAGE:

Tropical Storm Debby brings power outages, flooding to south Georgia

Officials urge Georgians to prepare for Debby as it barrels toward Florida

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