Hurricane Helene taught Pickens County a lot. Our community came together quickly and we saw, in real time, where partnerships were strong, where coordination gaps cost time, and how long the recovery work continues months and even years after the storm itself.
In response to what we learned, we developed three workshops to help Pickens County partners strengthen preparedness, coordination, and recovery before the next disaster. Each one is built for the people who lead, organize, and serve here: nonprofit staff, faith communities, local government, business partners, and community members who want to be ready when the next disaster comes.
Attend one. Attend two. Attend all three. Each workshop stands on its own. Taken together, they build a deeper understanding of how Pickens County can prepare, respond, and recover.
Three Workshops. One Purpose.
Each session focuses on a different stage of the disaster cycle: preparing, responding, and recovering. Register for one, two or all three. All workshops run from 9:00 a.m. to noon, with doors opening at 8:30 a.m. Coffee and light snacks will be available.
Leading Through Disaster:
Building Community Awareness and Preparedness
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. This session is for leaders who want to strengthen the foundation their organization stands on before the next emergency.
What you will take away:
- A clearer understanding of your organization's role in community preparedness
- Practical strategies for building awareness with the people you serve
- The connections and partnerships worth establishing before disaster strikes
- Leadership practices that hold up under pressure
Date: Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Doors open: 8:30 a.m.
Workshop: 9:00 a.m. to noon
Location: Coming soon
[Register for Workshop 1]
From Preparedness to Action:
Coordinating Community Response and Recovery
When a disaster arrives, plans meet reality. The second workshop focuses on the days and weeks immediately following an event, when speed, coordination, and clear communication determine how well a community responds. We will look at what coordination actually looks like in practice across organizations, agencies, and volunteers, and how to move from emergency response into early recovery without losing momentum.
What you will take away:
- A working understanding of how your organization activates within a broader community response
- Tools for coordinating across nonprofit, faith, government, and business partners
- Communication practices that hold up during a crisis
- A clear bridge between emergency response and the recovery work that follows
Date: Wednesday, July 29, 2026
Doors open: 8:30 a.m.
Workshop: 9:00 a.m. to noon
Location: Coming soon
[Register for Workshop 2]
Recovery, Resilience and Healing:
Supporting Communities After Disaster
The hardest part of recovery often comes after the news cameras leave. Months and years after a disaster, families are still rebuilding homes, processing what they have been through, and finding their footing again. The third workshop focuses on the long arc of recovery: the practical, emotional, and community-wide work of helping a community heal.
What you will take away:
- A clearer picture of the long arc of recovery and what families need at each stage
- Approaches for supporting the mental and emotional well-being of those affected
- Strategies for building sustained resilience into your organization and your community
- Practices for sustaining your own team through long recovery work
Date: Tuesday, August 25, 2026
Doors open: 8:30 a.m.
Workshop: 9:00 a.m. to noon
Location: Coming soon
[Register for Workshop 3]
Your Facilitators
Chief (Ret.) Gregory G. Mullen
Greg Mullen has spent nearly three decades in public safety leadership, including serving as Police Chief in Charleston, SC, and later leading public safety at Clemson University. Over the course of his career, he guided responses to challenging incidents including - the Emanuel AME Church shooting, the Sofa Super Store Fire, and Clemson’s COVID-19 operations, among others.
Today, Greg works with the National Mass Violence Center and the IACP’s Mass Violence Advisory Initiative, helping communities prepare for and recover from large-scale tragedies. He also serves on the Advisory Board of the Excellence in Policing and Public Safety Program at the University of South Carolina School of Law, where he teaches on critical incident preparation and response.
Chris Jordan
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Who these workshops are for
These workshops are designed for anyone whose work or service touches disaster preparedness, response, or recovery in Pickens County.
That includes 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.
You do not need prior disaster response experience to attend. You only need a commitment to your community.
Need More Information?
Whether you have a question about a specific workshop, registration, or how your organization can be part of long-term recovery in Pickens County, contact Theresa Singletary, Long-Term Recovery Group Coordinator.