The resilience and "can do" spirit of Bulloch County residents is on full display as more than 8,000 citizens remain without power, making access to essential resources like food, water, and ice a challenge. Despite these hardships, the community has rallied to support one another in ways that prove Bulloch Strong is more than just a slogan—it’s a way of life.
Bulloch VOAD
Many of you are seeing the extraordinary work Bulloch VOAD is doing in helping our community. This didn't just happen during this storm. We have spent years building relationships and establishing plans for disaster response. We have established plans, protocols and a countywide networks of partners and volunteers and established track record of success over the past decade. There is always room for improvement, as many of you have been kind to share. But know we are working as hard as we can to serve your needs.
In times of crisis, organizations like Bulloch VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Activated in a Disaster) step up to help. Established after Hurricane Matthew in 2016, Bulloch VOAD was formed to assist the county’s public safety and Emergency Management Agency (EMA) in handling the humanitarian side of disasters. This non-profit is part of both Georgia VOAD and National VOAD and is activated by EMA Director Corey Kemp during an emergency.
Operating with no paid employees, no assets, and no formal checking account, Bulloch VOAD's mission is simple but powerful: build relationships with non-profits, churches, and businesses that are willing to direct resources to those in need during disasters. The organization operates at the pleasure of Director Kemp and the Bulloch County Commission, serving as a vital link between the community and emergency resources.
DeWayne Grice, the Chair of Bulloch VOAD, founded Grice Connect in 2017 as a tool to support these efforts. Grice Connect was initially designed to connect community members in need with available resources during disasters. “The name ‘Grice’ is important because I wanted it to be clear that it was a private initiative, not a government entity,” Grice said. This close relationship with public safety agencies sometimes leads to confusion about Bulloch VOAD being a government agency, but the organization remains a completely volunteer-driven operation. Grice Connect lends all of our staff and resources to operate Bulloch VOAD in a disaster. That is why you see crossover and such a strong connection.
Major Bulloch VOAD activations include:
- Hurricane Irma
- Hurricane Dorian
- Willow Pond Fire
- Little Lotts Creek Fire
- COVID
- Hurricane Debby
- Hurricane Helene
Hurricane Helene response
For now, the focus for Bulloch VOAD and Grice Connect remains on recovery, as Bulloch County citizens continue to display the strength and unity that has become a hallmark of this community during times of crisis.
Below is a summary of highlights of activity during this activation.
We began preparing for this storm a week before it made landfall. We started messaging through Grice Connect early last week.
On Wednesday, September 25th
On Thursday evening, the Grice Connect team fully activated and had team members on duty 24/7 for the first 72 hours. We reported throughout the night as the storm made landfall. We also activated our emergency shelter through VOAD partners, Pittman Park UMC.
The few of you who slept woke up to our coverage to learn how devastating this storm had been.
We created a listing for closures
Announced Tropical Storm warning for Bulloch
On Thursday, September 26th
Made citizens aware of interactive map for road travel
On Friday, September 27th
Pittman Park UMC and their Pastors Jonathan and Stephanie Smith, their children, and their congregation have stepped up in extraordinary ways. At this point, they are certainly deserving of the Hurricane MVP award. They responded quickly as their church was one of the few in the county that still had power. They opened their doors to allow showers, recharge stations, snacks and water.
"Since Hurricane Helene devastated our community, BullochStrong—a partnership between Bulloch VOAD, Pittman Park United Methodist Church, Feed The Boro, Bulloch County Public Safety and EMA and other local organizations—has been hard at work providing critical relief to those affected," said Pastor Jonathan Smith. "Our efforts have focused on creating spaces where people can refresh and recharge, offering access to air conditioning, hot showers, and charging stations for phones and electronic devices. We’ve also ensured that no one goes hungry by serving over 1,200 hot meals and snacks. In addition, we distributed 540 boxes of food to families in need, and have made ice and 24/7 access to water readily available. To date, we have supported more than 1,300 citizens of Bulloch County, making a meaningful impact in their recovery process. Our goal has been to provide comfort, nourishment, and a helping hand to those in our community who are working to rebuild their lives after the storm."
Because of their willingness to serve so quickly and broadly, they became the initial point for humanitarian agencies to launch our recovery efforts.
At 2:07am, we began reporting on power outages
At 5:45am, you woke up to our initial reports regarding the devastation of the storm
At 9:58am, Bulloch VOAD requested citizens assistance in clearing roads
At 10:21am, we informed our readers that EMC had experienced a 100% outage
At 10:33am, Bulloch VOAD activated Pittman Park UMC to provide immediate assistance to citizens (Pittman was the only VOAD shelter partner that had power)
At 10:30pm, we provided Georgia Power's first update
On Saturday, September 28th
Bulloch VOAD expanded public showers
On Sunday, September 29th
Bulloch VOAD made an urgent call for citizens' help in recovery efforts
Citizens began responding to call for help
Bulloch VOAD participates in leadership press conference and makes an additional appeal for help
Launched daily power company updated
On Monday, September 30th
On Monday, in partnership with Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia, we distributed a tractor trailer load of ready to eat food, supplies and water to the community. Citizens from every corner of Bulloch responded and received assistance.
We created a comprehensive Hurricane Guide, which we update daily, and are working to share more immediate resources through Bulloch County VOAD's Facebook page as we monitor comments and messages for needs.
We also partnered with GS Athletics and Bulloch Schools to collect and distribute ice throughout the county to make up for the initial shortage of ice caused by power outages which disrupted supply.
Grice Connect launched the Hurricane Helene resource and information guide
Bullch VOAD launched volunteer opportunities
Bulloch VOAD launched Bulloch Strong in partnership with Pittman Park UMC to raise funds for recovery efforts
Provided studio space in the Grice Connect studio for Foundry Broadcasting to restart their local morning show
On Tuesday, October 1
Bulloch Strong receives lead gift of $5,000 from CORE CU
VOAD partner agency Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief deploys again to Bulloch County
On Wednesday, October 2
Bulloch VOAD partners distribute food and water across the county
At this time, the majority of the City of Statesboro is back online which has brought all grocery stores, gas stations and restaurants back. Bulloch VOAD monitors supply chain issues and all of our sources have shared that key components like ice, water, food and gas are coming back strong. Who knows what the port strike will bring, but in the near term, we should be good.
Bulloch County Public Works are reported that most roads are passable. Bulloch County VOAD and Bulloch County EMA continues to assess immediate needs.
On Wednesday, VOAD made a call out to our partners across the county to make sure every citizen in the county was within a few minutes of food, water, ice and HOPE. Boy, did they respond.
Brooklet First Baptist Church Pastor Patrick McKelven and his church once again stepped up for our county. They provided hundreds of hot meals during TS Debby just a few weeks ago. Pastor McKelven's church partnered with Leefield Baptist Church and their Pastor Scott Redding to prepare hundred of hot meals and help distribute them across the county.
Food Lion, Bulloch Commissioners Toby Conner, Ray Mosely, and Bulloch Strong purchased 13,824 bottles of water which members of Statesboro Fire Department, Bulloch County Fire Department, Bulloch County EMS and Bulloch County Correctional Institute loaded and delivered across the county.
Coca Cola Bottling donated 6,912 bottles, which were delivered to Pittman Park and Brooklet Baptist Church.
Ryan Brannen and his family purchased and distributed 3,456 bottles of water in Portal.
All told, hot meals, water and ice were and delivered on Monday to:
- Brooklet Baptist Church in Brooklet (they cooked and prepared the meals) Pastor Patrick McKelven
- Old Fellowship Baptist Church in Stilson (thanks to Pastor Tony Pagliarullo)
- Leefield Baptist Church in Leefield (thanks to Bulloch Commissioner Toby Conner and Pastor Scott Redding)
- Nevils Trinity Baptist Church in Nevils (thanks to Pastors Joe Eason and Bob Creech)
- Register Baptist Church in Register (thanks to Council member Tonya Boyd)
- Portal City Hall (thanks to Bulloch Commissioner Ray Mosley)
- Also water at Portal City Hall thanks to Ryan Brannen and his family
- Eldora Community (thanks to Jeff Palmer with ORBA association missionary and Eldora Baptist member Brandi Adkins)
There is so much yet to do. Thousands still do not have power. Some of their homes have been severely damaged or completely destroyed.
But our point in sharing this recap to date is to let you know that WE ARE HERE FOR YOU. That's our goal every day at GC but especially in times of unimaginable loss and disaster. Through our amazing network of local government, volunteers, nonprofit organizations, the faith-based community, friends and neighbors, we are Bulloch Strong.
Watch Bulloch County VOAD for volunteer opportunities. The Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief needs a lot of volunteers to help clean up debris. Click here to learn more about how to help them.
The next big event is the Feed the Boro food drop on Saturday morning at Statesboro High School.
You can give now the the Bulloch Strong community fund to help provide direct and immediate assistance to recovery efforts.
If you see a need in the county that is not being met, other than power restoration please email to [email protected] and we will do our best to assist.
