By: Suzanne Lawler, Regional Communications Manager


With its grand squares, shady trees, scenic riverwalk and nearby Tybee Island, Savannah, Georgia, lives up to its nickname, the “Hostess City of the South.” But when it comes to hurricanes, locals often call it “Dodge City,” reflecting the areas near misses with major storms. Savannah hasn’t taken a direct hurricane hit in 46 years. Hurricane David struck as a Category 1 in 1979 and more recently, Hurricane Helene caused widespread flooding and power outages.

Following Helene, students at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) teamed up with the American Red Cross Community Adaptation Program (CAP) in Chatham County for ten weeks, creating strategic initiatives that will strengthen disaster preparedness and response. The result is a community-based proposal that could help save lives not only in this community, but also across the country.

“This has been more than a project, it has been a mission, a race against the question what if the next big storm isn’t an if but a when,” student Sophia Waters said on a stage at a Savannah College of Art and Design presentation.

The students poured over research, did some brainstorming and creative thinking and produced a detailed plan focusing on immediate response and long-term resiliency solutions.

“The biggest thing I want people to take away from this is that the community is there for you,” student Armine Goodman reasoned. “You are not alone when it comes to natural disasters at all.”

Neighborhood Network

One element of the proposal is the Neighborhood Network, where volunteer neighborhood leads would be responsible for the safety of their neighbors.  After a storm, as soon as it’s safe, these folks can walk out of their homes and start checking on other people in the area. Each neighborhood lead would carry a support bag containing disaster supplies.

SCAD students set up a demonstration on campus in an area called “Savannah Beach.”  They simulated parts of the plan, including showing some of the things the neighborhood leader would have in their kit. 

“In these red bags you’ll find anything needed for disasters,” student Colette Trocha said in front of a table displaying supplies that included a hatchet, a phone power bank, a first aid kit, sunscreen, bug spray and a saw. “We have suggested materials in a note section so people can write what they need for their community because they know their community best.”

Waters emphasized the proposal allows for a tailored response across Chatham County’s eight municipalities.

“We have Tybee Island on the coast that is going to get a lot of damage from a hurricane, and part of Richmond Hill gets really bad flooding, downtown Savannah, as well, it doesn’t have a great flooding system,” she said. “With the neighborhood network initiative, we can have specified plans for each community that is catered to them and their needs rather than a county-wide initiative.”

Resource Hub

The second recommendation is the Resource Hub, a network of local distribution points – grocery stores, schools, churches, and parking lots - where residents can access emergency supplies before and after disasters.

The SCAD team showed the Red Cross team how the hubs would have supplies and support at easily accessible locations as opposed to a single distribution site.

“If we were told, ‘hey, there will be resources at the SCAD beach,’ we would know where it is to our location, which is exactly what we want to do for the locals,” Goodman said. “This is where people could restock their go-bags, where neighborhood leads can restock their community bags and a way to get more supplies from the American Red Cross.”

Art with Impact

SCAD’s artistic talent added eye-catching materials. The illustrators created a mural that depicts a somber older man hugging a Red Cross volunteer. Half of it is bathed in storm clouds and dark skies. Then the scene transitions to a clearer outlook with blue skies and white puffy clouds. The students say the mural is a landmark and symbol to the community. They also created placards with slogans that folks in Georgia appreciate, such as ‘Y’all Means All,’ and ‘Neighbors Helpin’ Neighbors.’

Building Stronger Communities

People helping each other at the hyper-local community level is the basis of the Red Cross Community Adaptation program (CAP) which expanded into Chatham County last year. It focuses on strengthening local partner networks in targeted areas that face an elevated risk of extreme weather and existing societal inequities.  This immersive collaboration is intended to holistically enhance the partners' ability to deliver health, hunger and housing-related services before, during and after disasters.

Alex Taylor is the Red Cross Community Disaster Risk Reduction Manager in Chatham County. She says the students provided the humanitarian organization with two comprehensive notebooks, one for Chatham County and one that could work in any part of the United States. 

“The intent of this partnership is to have a roadmap forward. We will take what the students have devised and see what will work for different communities,” said Taylor. “We intend to share the binders with all existing CAP teams, who can then share them with the broader community with the intention toward resiliency.”

Resiliency is a powerful word. The SCAD blueprint aims to establish safety in numbers, connecting communities and empowering people to feel confident and prepared in the face of natural disasters. What started as a class project may very well impact countless people these students will never meet, empowering people to rely on each other during their darkest days.

How You Can help: Volunteers are more critical now than ever as the Red Cross responds to a new major disaster about every two weeks. These massive events, like storms and wildfires, are on top of the home fires which occur multiple times every day across the country. To make sure no one faces an emergency alone, the Red Cross has a crucial need for disaster volunteers and is actively recruiting to be ready for disasters of all sizes.   

 Just like the people served, the Red Cross is proud that its volunteers represent a wide array of cultures, backgrounds, ages, lifestyles and beliefs. Everyone is welcome at the Red Cross. You’re invited to put on a red vest and join the Red Cross team. Visit redcross.org/volunteer to get started today. Free online training will be provided. 

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.