By Amy Hancock
One year ago, the winds howled, the skies darkened, and Hurricane Helene changed the landscape of South Georgia overnight. But in the days that followed, something more powerful emerged – the strength and resilience of those who call South Georgia State College (SGSC) and the region home.
September 27, 2024, is forever etched in our collective memory. Trees fell, power lines snapped, and lives were upended in a matter of hours. On the Douglas campus alone, thousands of trees were scattered across campus, making it almost impossible to navigate from one entrance to another. The Waycross campus was spared the brunt of the damage, but still had major issues that affected the faculty, staff, and students.
The path of Hurricane Helene came directly over SGSC’s Douglas campus causing the most significant damage. While plans had been made for the safety of the SGSC employees and students in preparation the days before, no one expected the extent and impact of the storm.
During the height of the storm, SGSC Residence Life & Housing professional staff witnessed first-hand how students and staff took care of and supported each other. When the power went out and it was time to shelter in place, Resident Assistants (R.A.s) helped Residence Life Specialist for Student Success Shanice Moody knock on doors and assist students in getting to a safe place on the first floor. Many of those students brought snacks and drinks with them to share with their fellow Hawks. Other residents brought blankets and pillows to help keep everyone comfortable while in the hallways. When students experienced anxiety about the storm or experienced major storm damage to their vehicles from trees that had fallen, others offered their support through words and action.
As soon as possible, SGSC Interim President Dr. Greg Tanner and other staff members weaved their way through downed trees and power lines and made it to the campus to assess damage, coordinate recovery, and ensure no one felt forgotten.
“When I arrived on campus, my heart sank,” said Dr. Tanner. “It was almost unrecognizable. I had to step over trees that were on the ground just to get onto campus. All I could think about was if our staff and students that had been in the residence halls were safe. Once I found out there were no injuries, I could breathe a sigh of relief. Then I looked around and realized this was only the beginning of a long road to recovery for SGSC and its campus. I began reminding myself that SGSC doesn’t stop when life gets hard, it becomes more important and unified.”
Daniel Warren, SGSC’s Director of Facilities, remembers walking onto campus after Helene. “It was devastating. You could barely see sidewalks or roads, only trees and building debris everywhere. But what stood out to me was how quickly our team went to work. We had one goal and that was to make campus safe again so students could come home.”
SGSC’s Campus Police, facilities staff and Dr. Tanner helped to clear trees and debris on campus so students could leave after the storm. When one student could not find gas locally to fill her car, two of her teammates drove her to Tifton to get gas. Once a path was cleared, housing staff and ten students that did not have a place to stay while campus was closed drove to Gordon State College in Barnesville to stay with their incredible hosts there. While at Gordon, the group celebrated two student birthdays (complete with cake) and spent many hours together sharing meals, studying, making trips to the local Walmart, and even attending a Gordon football game. When the SGSC residence halls reopened, it was clear to see that students and staff had made strong connections because of their shared experiences.
Through it all, SGSC put people first. The safety of students, faculty, and staff was the priority. Classes paused. The workdays were suspended. Deadlines were adjusted. Scheduled Fall athletic games were canceled. But the SGSC family rallied—not just on campus, but in living rooms, shelters, kitchens, and neighborhoods. Faculty and staff checked in on students as best they could. Students checked on other students. The experience of SGSC being a family was truly felt during this time.
“After the hurricane, our thoughts were immediately with our students and the impact this storm had on their lives along with everyone else in our local communities. We all knew we had to restore access to the campuses and our information systems as quickly and as safely as possible. As soon as the campuses had electricity, we ensured our platforms were intact and restored access,” said Dr. Jimmy Harper, Vice President of Enrollment Management and Information Technology. “As an institution, we wanted to create a sense of normalcy for our students and allow the ones who could continue their education as soon as they were able. For those who were able to come to campus, we had computer labs and indoor and outdoor Wi-Fi available. Students who had connectivity from home were able to check out laptops to continue their studies. The faculty were also very understanding and worked with many students throughout the rest of the semester to complete their work. Everyone at the institution truly came together to serve our students and helped them complete their semester in the midst of everything going on around us.”
By mid-October, students were back on campus. And while some classrooms still carried the faint scent of freshly repaired drywall or the hum of portable air units, learning resumed—not just in textbooks, but in real-life lessons of resilience, empathy, and strength.
“The hurricane really impacted my very first semester of nursing school. When we returned to campus, we had to adjust by moving classrooms because of the damage to our building. We also felt the pressure of making up for lost time,” said Emma Wilkerson, SGSC nursing student. “But through it all, I was reminded to be flexible and to lean on others for support. In the end, the experience made me even more determined to become a nurse and make a difference in my career.”
The student-athletes were affected as well. SGSC Hawks basketball player, Reggie White, said, “The hardest part was being away from campus and not knowing when we would be able to come back. We were just about to start playing some games and then had to cancel a few. Everyone thought that we would not make it far due to missing a whole month of basketball practice and conditioning. But when we returned, we knew our goal was still the same and we knew we had a lot of work to catch up on. We knew the coaches, staff, community and everyone else at the college were with us through it all. It made me proud to have SGSC on my jersey.”
In the year since Helene, SGSC has grown stronger. This spring, the college announced a new Emergency Services Management option in the Bachelor of Science in Management, inspired by what the community endured and how it responded. The program is more than a degree. It’s a promise to train the next generation of leaders who will one day stand at the center of crisis and know exactly what to do.
At the same time, SGSC has continued to expand opportunities for students outside the classroom. The launch of the new Rodeo Club this fall has brought fresh energy and spirit to campus life and the resurgence of an agriculture pathway is on the horizon. Together, these new opportunities show that even after hardship, SGSC continues to grow, thrive, and inspire the next generation.
SGSC continues to be a place of healing. Students have shared their stories through art, writing, and service. Faculty have developed new ways to teach with compassion and flexibility. The grounds crew, often unsung, restored beauty to the storm-battered campuses, tree by tree, flower by flower.
Daniel Warren reflected, “Every time a sidewalk was cleared or a building repaired, it felt like we were putting a piece of SGSC back together. It has taken many months of repairs and restoration, but our campus is returning to normal. Our team set a goal to not only repair our damage but enhance the repairs to make our facilities stronger in the case of another storm. While our landscape has been drastically changed, we are working on a plan to bring a renewed landscape back. We are thankful for all the work that has been done and the people who helped. It has taken a team effort.”
One year later, there are still a few signs of the storm, but there are also signs of hope. A repaired roof here, a planted tree there. A new student who enrolled because they saw SGSC show up for its people when it mattered most. A graduating student who stayed on the course even when their world was turned upside down. Helene tested South Georgia. But SGSC didn’t just weather the storm—they rose in the aftermath.
Dr. Tanner reflected, “When I look back on this past year, I don’t just see the damage left by Hurricane Helene, instead I see the incredible strength of our students, faculty, staff, and community. We have shown that SGSC is more than classrooms and buildings. We are people who care for one another, who rise to meet challenges, and who come back stronger every time. The storm tested us, but it also reminded us why we are here: to build futures, lift each other up, and remain a source of strength for South Georgia. That’s who we are, and that’s who we’ll always be.”