Atlanta – September 12, 2026 -- Georgia Power is urging its 2.8 million customers to prepare emergency kits and evacuation plans as hurricane season nears its peak this month.
The utility is partnering with federal and state agencies for National Preparedness Month
Throughout September, Georgia Power is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency to promote readiness. The state has not yet seen a major hurricane or tropical storm this season, but officials say advance planning still matters for homes, businesses and communities.
Grid upgrades already prevented 108 million outage minutes in 2025
Georgia Power says its Grid Investment Program improved reliability for more than 535,000 customers last year. Combined with self-healing Smart Grid technology that reroutes power remotely, the upgrades prevented 108 million customer outage minutes and played a role during last year's hurricane season.
Customers can sign up for free text alerts on outages
The company's free Outage Alerts service sends personalized text updates, provided customers keep their contact number current. Its Outage & Storm Center, at GeorgiaPower.com/Storm, lets customers update contact details, report outages and check restoration status, or call 888-891-0938 around the clock. An interactive Outage Map inside the same portal shows near real-time outage locations and estimated restoration times, updated by field crews. The Georgia Power mobile app offers the same storm and outage information for Apple and Android devices.
The company recommends building a grab-and-go emergency kit before storms hit
Georgia Power advises households to stock several days' worth of food, water and medication, accounting for the needs of each family member and pet, and to prepare a portable kit for quick evacuations. It also recommends families agree in advance on communication methods, meeting points and evacuation or shelter-in-place steps.
Safety warnings target downed power lines and portable generators
Georgia Power is telling drivers to move over one lane for utility vehicles stopped roadside, as required by Georgia law. Customers should never touch downed or low-hanging wires and should call 911 or Georgia Power immediately if they spot one, since fallen lines can be concealed under debris or tree limbs. The company also warns against removing tree limbs from power lines and advises following manufacturer instructions when running portable generators, including avoiding enclosed spaces.