The Emergency Management Association of Georgia (EMAG) has named the Columbia County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) the 2025 EMA of the Year, marking the first time in the county’s history that the agency has received this prestigious statewide honor. Columbia County EMA was selected from among Georgia’s 161 county and municipal EMAs.

The award recognizes the agency’s exceptional leadership, coordination, and resilience in response to Hurricane Helene, one of the most significant storms to impact the region in recent years. Following Helene’s landfall, Columbia County EMA rapidly activated its Emergency Operations Center, opened shelters, and coordinated debris removal crews to clear more than 800 miles of critical roadways for first responders and utility teams. Throughout the storm and its aftermath, the agency delivered real-time alerts, shelter updates, and recovery information through county notification systems, social media platforms, and local news outlets.

Columbia County EMA also advanced the use of innovative technology during the response. The agency deployed drones to assess storm damage in inaccessible areas and utilized new GIS mapping tools to track debris removal and infrastructure impacts, enabling faster decision-making while reducing risk to personnel.

Collaboration across local, state, and federal partners was another hallmark of the county’s response. Working closely with county departments, private sector partners, the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS), and federal agencies, Columbia County EMA coordinated supply distribution, facilitated recovery operations, and supported regional resiliency efforts. To date, the county has submitted over $81 million in FEMA reimbursement requests to support long-term recovery.

Columbia County Board of Commissioners Chairman Doug Duncan commended the agency’s efforts, stating: “The response to Hurricane Helene showed the strength and resilience of Columbia County. Our EMA worked tirelessly to protect lives and property, and their leadership ensured that our community came through one of the toughest challenges we’ve ever faced.”

Columbia County EMA Director Shawn Granato emphasized that the honor reflects the work of the entire county government, “This award isn’t just for our agency—it’s for the entire county. It reflects the dedication and teamwork of nearly 1,500 employees across all departments. Without the unified response demonstrated over the last year, this recognition would not have been possible.”