Two storms in six days knocked out power and flooded roads across Roswell, landing just before Fulton County launched its emergency preparedness campaign for September 2026.

The Atlanta-Fulton County Emergency Management Agency (AFCEMA) announced its National Preparedness Month effort on Wednesday, Sept. 9, calling on residents to build emergency kits, make family communication plans and learn the risks specific to their area. The campaign, run in partnership with the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), continues through the end of September under the national theme "Americans Stand Ready."

The announcement came four days after severe thunderstorms on Saturday, Sept. 5, left more than 34,000 Fulton County customers without power, Fox 5 Atlanta reported. Winds gusted to 60 mph and hail reached an inch in diameter across Fulton, DeKalb and Gwinnett counties. Roswell Fire Department responded to numerous calls about downed trees blocking roadways and falling into yards. One large tree fell onto a home. The department reported no injuries.

Two days after the AFCEMA announcement, heavy rainfall on Friday, Sept. 11, flooded Georgia 400 near Roberts Drive and Northridge Road in Roswell, WSB-TV reported. Flash flood warnings covered Fulton and Cobb counties. Flooding also closed all westbound lanes of I-285 at I-85 and triggered a ground stop at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

AFCEMA Director Joseph Barasoain urged residents not to wait for a disaster to start planning, in the agency's Sept. 9 announcement.

"Disasters can change our lives quickly, which is why it is important for everyone to be prepared," Barasoain said.

Each week of the campaign highlights a different focus: supporting first responders through individual readiness, protecting family and friends, and strengthening community resilience.

Roswell's tree-heavy neighborhoods may face longer waits for power restoration after storms because Georgia Power's standard protocol restores high-capacity main transmission lines before neighborhood lines and individual homes, Hoodline reported.

AFCEMA directs residents to ready.gov/stand-ready for preparedness tips. Residents can also call the agency at 404-612-5660 for information about specific risks in Fulton County.