In an open letter dated February 5, 2026, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp addressed residents after a series of severe weather events impacted the state. The recent storms included winter weather with ice and snow in northern counties, while southern areas faced tornado threats and drought conditions that raised concerns about wildfires.
Governor Kemp thanked those who responded to the emergencies: “I want to say thank you to all the heroes who have worked long hours to keep us safe throughout these ordeals. These were all-hands-on-deck events, with forecasts shifting up until the arrival of these weather systems.” He highlighted the efforts of agencies such as the Georgia Forestry Commission, which managed responses across different regions for ice storms, tornado cleanup, and wildfire reports.
State-level agencies including the Department of Public Safety (DPS), Georgia National Guard (GNG), Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC), and Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) maintained continuous operations during the crises. Local law enforcement and first responders also played key roles in emergency services and storm preparation.
Kemp recognized coordination led by the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS): “They did all this with the guidance of the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS), which has done incredible work preparing Georgians and coordinating responses to severe weather. Director Joshua Lamb and his team always keep my office updated leading up to these events, as well as stakeholders across Georgia on what steps are needed to ensure the safety of our citizens.”
The Governor extended appreciation to transportation workers: “I want to give a special thank you to the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and its teams who dedicated long hours and sleepless nights to preparing Georgia’s roads for two consecutive weekends of ice and snow.” GDOT’s efforts enabled resources to reach affected areas efficiently.
Utility crews from Georgia Power, EMCs, and MEAG utilities were also commended for restoring power under difficult conditions: “Another critical component of that response were the linemen and leadership from Georgia Power, our EMCs, and MEAG utilities who braved ice, snow, and record cold temperatures to restore power as quickly as they could.”
Kemp thanked citizens for following official warnings: “Finally, I want to extend a hearty thank you to you, the people of Georgia, for heeding our warnings and properly preparing yourselves… You didn’t panic buy, you stayed off the roads…and you ultimately played a big part in helping us get through these storms.”
The Governor concluded by reaffirming readiness for future emergencies: “We will always remain vigilant when storms like these threaten our state, and together, we will always put the safety of our people first.”
As outlined on its official website, the Office of Governor directs executive functions within state government. It operates from Atlanta at the Governor’s Mansion—a Greek Revival-style residence built in 1967—while supporting public services statewide. The administration is responsible for governance across sectors including emergency management. The Georgia State Executive branch leads government operations from this location while maintaining international outreach such as an economic development office established in Japan in 1973.
The Government of Georgia continues providing oversight for residents’ welfare through public service delivery (source).
