FOLKSTON, Ga. — Charlton County was selected as the first community in Georgia to take part in a Community Risk Assessment Workshop conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), the Charlton County Emergency Management Agency announced.
Through its Community Risk Assessment Portfolio, NCCOS selects one community area each year for an intensive, place-based assessment.
County officials called the selection a significant opportunity to bring national research capacity and technical expertise to the rural community.
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The assessment combines NCCOS’s expertise with local knowledge from residents, workers, planners and emergency responders. Organizers said the information gathered will provide a clearer understanding of the county’s risks, critical infrastructure, response capacity, community assets, service dependencies and unique geographic considerations.
The resulting data and analysis are expected to inform strategic planning, emergency preparedness, hazard mitigation and future community investments.
Charlton County EMA thanked the community partners who participated, saying their perspectives and institutional knowledge helped ensure the discussions were informed and grounded in local realities.
The agency gave special recognition to Charlton County EMS Division Chief Sami Luffman for guiding NOAA representatives throughout the county so they could see firsthand the landscape, distances and other considerations not always evident through maps and data.
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Manager Michael Lusk and team members were also recognized for providing a presentation and tour of part of the refuge. Officials said the tour gave the assessment team a deeper understanding of the refuge’s landscape, natural systems, access considerations and connections to surrounding communities.
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The visit came as the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge celebrates its recent designation as a World Heritage Site, a recognition of its significance to Charlton County and the world.
More information is available at NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science and the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.
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