Hartford Fire Rescue

10/14/2026

The City of Hartford would like to inform residents that we have not received any information or confirmation regarding an upcoming American Red Cross visit to Hartford for supply distribution.

At this time, the Red Cross is not set up at the Hartford Fire & Rescue Building, and residents should not go there expecting supplies to be distributed.

We understand that our community may need assistance, and we will share any confirmed updates as information becomes available.

Thank you for your patience, understanding, and cooperation as we work to keep our community informed. Please help us spread the word by sharing this post.

10/12/2026

📢 **WHAT COUNTS AS STORM DAMAGE WHEN REPORTING TO AEMA?**

Several residents have asked whether they should report things like power outages, spoiled food, fallen trees, or limbs that didn't damage their homes.

Here's a simple explanation based on FEMA's damage assessment guidelines.

🏠 **FEMA uses four main categories for residential damage:**

🟢 **AFFECTED:** Minimal damage, such as damaged shingles, gutters, siding, fencing, or downed trees in the yard. The home remains livable.

🟡 **MINOR:** Damage requiring repairs, such as roof leaks, broken windows, water intrusion, or damage affecting the home's use.

🟠 **MAJOR:** Significant damage to the roof, walls, foundation, or other structural components. Extensive repairs are necessary.

🔴 **DESTROYED:** The home is a total loss or cannot reasonably be repaired.

**What about other storm-related losses?**

🌳 **Fallen trees and limbs:** YES, these can be reported, especially when they cause property damage, block access, or require significant cleanup. Trees down in a yard without structural damage generally fall under the lowest damage category.

⚡ **Power outages:** A power outage alone is generally NOT considered structural damage to your home. However, extended outages are important to emergency management.

🥩 **Spoiled refrigerator or freezer food:** Food loss is a legitimate storm-related hardship, but spoiled food alone does NOT generally qualify as residential structural damage for FEMA assessments. Keep records of your losses in case other assistance becomes available.

🏚️ **Damaged sheds, fences, outbuildings, and other property:** Document these losses. They may be relevant to the overall damage assessment, although they do not automatically qualify for FEMA financial assistance.

📸 **IMPORTANT:** If you experienced actual storm damage, even if it seems minor, please document it with pictures and submit an accurate report.

**Reporting damage does NOT guarantee FEMA assistance.** These reports help AEMA understand the extent of damage throughout our communities and support assessments used in determining whether additional disaster assistance is needed.

10/12/2026

🚨 ATTENTION GENEVA COUNTY RESIDENTS — PLEASE REPORT YOUR STORM DAMAGE! 🚨

🏠 YOUR DAMAGE REPORT MATTERS — NOT JUST FOR YOU, BUT FOR OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY!

As our communities begin recovering from the recent devastating storms, there is something extremely important that every resident with storm damage needs to do.

PLEASE REPORT YOUR DAMAGE TO THE ALABAMA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (AEMA)!

⚠️ WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT?

These damage reports help state and federal officials determine the extent of destruction in our area and whether our communities may qualify for FEMA disaster assistance.

The more complete and accurate the reporting, the better officials can understand the true impact of this storm.

Even if you have insurance, even if you've already started cleaning up, and even if you don't think your damage is severe enough — PLEASE REPORT IT!

✅ THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT YOU CAN REPORT YOUR DAMAGE YOURSELF!

You do NOT have to contact your local Emergency Management Agency to submit your initial report.

AEMA provides a direct online self-reporting option that allows residents to document their damage without waiting for someone to come assess their property.

📲 REPORT YOUR STORM DAMAGE HERE:

https://al-state.orioncentral.com/SelfReporter?m=5DEB7FF4-323C-434D-B9BF-0E6E8D5F2B8D

❤️ PLEASE DON'T ASSUME SOMEONE ELSE HAS ALREADY REPORTED YOUR DAMAGE!

We want to make sure every affected household is accounted for and that our communities have the strongest possible documentation of the destruction we've experienced.

IMPORTANT: Submitting a damage report does not automatically qualify you for FEMA assistance or replace a future FEMA application. However, these reports are an important part of documenting the disaster and supporting assessments of our area's needs.

📢 PLEASE SHARE THIS POST!

Share it with your friends, family, neighbors, churches, and community groups. Some residents may not know this reporting option exists, and others may not realize how important their individual reports are.

Every report helps tell the story of what our communities have endured. Every affected household deserves to be counted.

🙏 Let's work together to make sure NO ONE is overlooked as we begin the long road to recovery.

REPORT IT. SHARE IT. HELP OUR COMMUNITIES RECOVER! ❤️

Step 4: Document Upload Upload photos or supporting documents for your disaster assistance application. Supporting Documents File Document Type Description (optional)

10/10/2026

PUBLIC SAFETY UPDATE – HARTFORD, ALABAMA

Although the worst of the severe weather appears to have passed, there is still considerable storm damage throughout the City of Hartford.

City employees, utility crews, and emergency personnel are working diligently to restore power, clear roadways, remove debris, and address the damage left behind by the storm.

We are asking everyone to PLEASE STAY OFF THE ROADWAYS unless travel is absolutely necessary.

Unnecessary traffic creates additional hazards and makes it more difficult for crews to safely and efficiently do their jobs. It also increases the risk of traffic accidents and other emergencies that divert valuable resources away from ongoing recovery efforts.

Please be patient, avoid damaged areas, and never drive around barricades or approach downed power lines.

Our city employees and emergency personnel have been working tirelessly, and the best way you can help right now is by giving them the space they need to work safely.

We appreciate everyone’s patience, understanding, and cooperation as our community works to recover from this storm.

Hartford Police Department

10/09/2026

⛈️ ⚠️ ⛈️

From your Ft Rucker Weather Team:

1PM update: Hurricane Isaias is currently located about 135 miles S of Pensacola. Max sustained winds are 120 mph (Cat 3), and the storm is moving NNE @ 16 mph. This is an intermediate advisory from the NHC, so it only updates the position. The next full advisory will be issued at 4PM, and we'll be back shortly thereafter with the very latest.

I do want to point out that the NWS had extended the hurricane warning to include Geneva and Coffee Counties. Stay safe, Ft Rucker!

10/08/2026

And some have stayed because of one firefighter… BE THE REASON THEY STAY!

Something I feel like doesn't get talked about enough.

Some damn good firemen don’t leave because they stopped loving the job.

They leave because they got tired of the politics.
Tired of the cliques.
Tired of watching standards depend on who you are.
Tired of giving a damn in a place that made giving a damn exhausting.

And some of them don’t actually leave.. they just quit caring while they’re still sitting in the seat.

That might be worse.

If good firemen keep becoming bitter, checking out, transferring, or walking away, at some point we have to stop asking “What’s wrong with them?”

And start asking:

What are we doing to our own people?

The fire service is hard enough without us being the reason good firemen stop loving it.

10/01/2026

Hartford Fire/Rescue would like to thank the person who found our ice chest lid and returned it! It apparently blew off during a response to a fire this afternoon. Again, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We will try and secure it better so it doesn’t happen again.

09/07/2026

Happy Labor Day from everyone at Hartford Fire Rescue! Have a happy and safe holiday!

07/11/2026

This week, we lost an icon of the EMS/FIRE service, although a fictional character,“Johnny Gage”, (Randolph Mantooth) and his partner Roy Desoto (Kevin Tighe), probably inspired more people to become firefighters and EMS personnel than any other single person in the world, myself included. We as firefighters and EMS personnel owe a debt of gratitude to Randolph Mantooth, both for his portrayal of “Johnny Gage” and his support of EMS and firefighters over the years. R.I.P. “Johnny”, rest easy brother, see you on the top floor. KMG 365

07/05/2026

This post is directed to the pet owners in the area… Today I was on a scene where a three year old child was mauled by a dog. Thankfully the child will recover, but is being transferred to Birmingham, and will have a long road to recovery, and will most likely carry the scars for the rest of his life. What makes this even worse, the dog was not vaccinated, and the child will most likely have to undergo rabies treatments. Pet owners, PLEASE have your animals vaccinated, be responsible, and prevent another child or adult from having to go through these painful treatments. Please be responsible and have your animals vaccinated!