UGA Institute for Disaster Management

08/28/2026

The University of Georgia College of Public Health is excited to announce Morgan Taylor (PhD ’23, MPH ’19) as the new director for the Institute for Disaster Management.

“IDM has been such an important part of my own professional journey, which makes the opportunity to lead the Institute especially meaningful,” said Taylor. “I’ve seen firsthand the tremendous impact this team has through its teaching, research and outreach. I could not be more excited about working alongside our faculty, staff, students, alumni and community partners to build on IDM’s successes and expand what we can accomplish together.”

Read more here👉 Idm.publichealth.uga.edu/morgan-taylor-named-director-of-institute-for-disaster-management

08/21/2026

Join us for our first event of National Preparedness Month!

🎲Disaster Game Night
📍Rook & Pawn (294 W Washington St #300, Athens, GA 30601)
⏰5 PM - 9 PM
🎟️$7 to play
💗A small percentage of sales will feed back into the IDM fund to sponsor more events like these for students.

Hosted by UGA IDM and OEP in honor of September aka National Preparedness Month.

08/17/2026

whether you’re starting 13th grade or 21st grade, happy FDOC dawgs!

08/13/2026

Your September plans just landed! To celebrate National Preparedness Month, the Institute for Disaster Management, together with the Office of Emergency Preparedness, will be hosting a series of events all September long. Stay tuned for the lineup 👀

07/21/2026

This summer, Dr. Michelle Ritchie launched something new: Hazard Hunters: Storm Science and Survival, a youth summer academy through the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

Held twice in early July, the camp welcomed middle school students for a hands-on introduction to the world of disasters and emergency management. Throughout the week, students explored common hazards and learned how communities prepare for and respond to them through interactive activities across campus.

From measuring heat and visiting the VR lab to practicing weather forecasting, campers got a firsthand look at the science behind disasters and the people who work to protect the public.

07/21/2026

As we wrap up another summer, we want to extend a huge thank you to our Emergency Preparedness intern, Kittana, for her outstanding contributions to our team. Throughout her internship, she helped update our Hazard Mitigation Plan, drafted a reunification plan, created preparedness-focused social media content, and played an important role in providing threat and hazard context as we continue work on our THIRA.

We are also grateful to the Institute for Disaster Management for helping develop the next generation of emergency management professionals and for partnering with us through this internship experience.

Kittana, thank you for your hard work, enthusiasm, and fresh perspective. We wish you all the best as you take the next step in your career journey and look forward to working alongside you as a fellow emergency management professional in the years ahead!

07/15/2026

For graduate students Ansley Warnock and Patty Torres, traveling to Iceland with Dr Michelle Ritchie was more than a summer vacation. It was an opportunity to dive deeper into their research.

Read the full story 👉 https://idm.publichealth.uga.edu/research-resiliency-and-reflection-lessons-from-iceland/

07/13/2026

In the face of germs like measles, norovirus, and meningitis, our long term care facilities are especially vulnerable. That's why the South Carolina Long Term Care Infectious Disease Educational Program team is looking forward to kicking off Year 2 of the program next month!

If you work at a long term care facility in SC, or know someone who does, we encourage you to check out this no-cost training for information and resources that will help keep you and your residents safe.

The mission of the South Carolina Long Term Care Infectious Disease...

07/03/2026

Happy 4th of July! Celebrate safely by staying alert for the most popular holiday hazards...

🎆 Use caution when lighting, observing, and disposing fireworks.
🎆 Do not drive while distracted or under the influence.
🎆 Observe safe swimming and boating practices.
🎆 Stay cool, hydrated, and sun-screened!
🎆 Only grill outdoors away from flammable materials, always check for leaks, and never leave a grill unattended.
🎆 Keep cold food cold and hot food hot. Throw away perishable food that has been out for 2+ hours (1 hour if 90+ degrees out).
🎆 Keep a fire extinguisher and first aid kit nearby.

06/29/2026

During this quiet summer without students, IDM was thrilled to host our yearly visit from the UGA Foothills AHEC Health Careers Youth Conference.

Introducing these bright young students to careers in public health and disaster management is something we look forward to every year, and this year was no different.