Columbia County Emergency Management Agency Director Sean Granato urged residents to create inventories, check home safety before returning and plan to be self-sufficient for several days in a preparedness message tied to the anniversary of Hurricane Helene.

The county marked September as National Preparedness Month and said it will release videos on ready kits, communication plans and disaster recovery to guide families. A host for the county message said, "September is National Preparedness Month, and we encourage you and your family to use this time to plan and prepare for the things you may need in the case of a natural disaster."

Granato advised residents to keep a running inventory of household items for insurance claims, saying that after a catastrophic event "we're not gonna remember everything on the fly." He said the priority after a storm is to verify that a home is safe and accessible before returning: "The first step you should do before you come home is check and make sure that it's safe to come home. The second thing you have to do is make sure that it's accessible."

Granato described limits on emergency response during large events, urging personal preparedness. He said the county's emergency operations center was staffed by about 45 to 50 people during the previous event and that first responders could not reach everyone immediately, with roads taking "5 or 6 days" to clear to one lane. He warned residents to expect delays in official access and assistance and to have supplies on hand for several days.

On recovery, Granato noted insurance companies are the first point of contact and said federal help can follow: "Your insurance company is the first group through whom you have to go, but then FEMA comes into the town and they set up individual assistance centers." He also framed the county role as advisory and coordinating rather than replacing individual recovery actions.

The county message closes with a reminder to maintain personal stability during emergencies: "Don't let the emergency take over your life. You wanna be able to be stable and let the emergency not affect you as much as it could have," Granato said. The host said the county will roll out several videos this month to guide residents on preparedness and recovery.