Hurricane Helene taught Pickens County a lot. It showed where partnerships were strong, where coordination gaps cost time, and how much recovery work continues long after a storm itself. In response, the Pickens County Long-Term Recovery Group (LTRG) is offering three workshops to help local leaders and community partners strengthen disaster preparedness, coordination, and recovery before the next emergency.
Each workshop focuses on a different stage of the disaster cycle: before, during, and after. Registrants may attend one, two, or all three.
The workshops will be led by Greg Mullen and Chris Jordan, two practitioners with deep experience in emergency response, leadership, and community resilience.
Three workshops. One purpose.
Leading Through Disaster: Building Community Awareness and Preparedness
Tuesday, June 30, 2026
9:00 a.m. to noon, with doors opening at 8:30 a.m.
Clemson United Methodist Church, 300 Frontage Rd, Clemson, SC 29631
The first workshop focuses on what happens before a disaster ever arrives. Preparedness is more than supplies and plans on paper. It is the relationships, the awareness, and the leadership practices that allow a community to act quickly when minutes matter.
From Preparedness to Action: Coordinating Community Response and Recovery
Wednesday, July 29, 2026
9:00 a.m. to noon, with doors opening at 8:30 a.m.
Location coming soon.
The second workshop focuses on the days and weeks immediately following a disaster, when speed, coordination, and clear communication determine how well a community responds. It examines how coordination works in practice across organizations, agencies, and volunteers, and how to move from emergency response into early recovery without losing momentum.
Recovery, Resilience, and Healing: Supporting Communities After Disaster
Tuesday, August 25, 2026
9:00 a.m. to noon, with doors opening at 8:30 a.m.
Location coming soon.
The third workshop focuses on the long arc of recovery. Months and years after a disaster, families are still rebuilding homes, processing what they have been through, and finding their footing again. The workshop addresses the practical, emotional, and community-wide work of helping a community heal.
Who the workshops are for
The workshops are designed for nonprofit staff and leadership, faith community leaders, government and emergency management partners, business community members, civic and volunteer organization leaders, and community members who want to be part of how Pickens County prepares for what comes next.
Prior disaster response experience is not required.
Registration
All three workshops are free to attend. Coffee and light snacks will be available. Registrants may sign up for one, two, or all three at uwpickens.org/disaster-workshops.
About the Pickens County Long-Term Recovery Group
The Pickens County Long-Term Recovery Group formed after Hurricane Helene with grant support from the American Red Cross. The LTRG brings together nonprofits, faith communities, government partners, and businesses across the county to coordinate the long work of recovery and resilience.
To stay connected with recovery efforts, partnership opportunities, and future workshops, join the LTRG email list.
For more information, contact Theresa Singletary, Long-Term Recovery Group Coordinator