Emergency Communications
The Jekyll Island Authority (JIA) uses Nixle for emergency alerts and community notifications. Nixle allows the JIA to keep everyone who lives, works, and visits Jekyll Island informed in the most convenient and reliable way possible. Nixle is a timely, effective, reliable, and secure technology platform used by thousands of agencies throughout the U.S. and allows JIA to send important information on multiple platforms, including text message, e-mail, voice call, and online. View recent alerts »
Receive Alerts & Notifications
When registering with Nixle, you’ll be asked to provide your ZIP code, a cell phone number, and an email address by which to receive notifications. You must use Jekyll Island’s ZIP code (31527) to receive Jekyll Island notices. After you register, log in on the Nixle website to select which messages you receive on which devices.
Questions and Support
If you have any questions about your registration or your Nixle account, please send an email to support@nixle.com or call 877-649-5362. Frequently asked questions about the Nixle system can be found on the Nixle website. Please spread the word about our use of Nixle. If you know someone who doesn’t receive emergency alerts and community notifications from the JIA, encourage them to register for Nixle at jekyllisland.com/emergency.
All Nixle messages will be coded into one of three categories:
- Alert — most urgent message, life-threatening situation (example: evacuation order, active shooter, gas leak, bomb threat)
- Advisory — a public safety situation (example: boil water, road closure)
- Community Information — local information, not life-threatening (example: fireworks notice, town hall meeting, road resurfacing)
Nixle has replaced all emailed notices from JIA, as well as Jekyll Island’s use of the Glynn County Code Red system. Nixle is a secure communications service with no spam or advertising associated with the Nixle system. Information you provide to Nixle is secure and will not be shared with the JIA or sold/reused for marketing purposes.
Stay Safe: Hurricane and Severe Weather
Jekyll Island experiences a range of weather. Being situated on the coast, Jekyll is particularly at risk for hurricanes. Storms that form in the southern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico have the potential to affect our island. Every resident should know how to stay safe when hurricanes strike. In cooperation with the Glynn County Emergency Management Agency, the Jekyll Island Authority has plans and procedures, for both natural and man-made disasters, to help residents prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the impacts of disasters.
Below are links to help you prepare for hurricanes and severe weather:
- In the event of severe weather, hurricanes, or island evacuation, emergency information will be distributed through the Glynn County Emergency Management Agency
- Register for Jekyll Island emergency notification system: Nixle
- Georgia Ready
- Glynn County Surge Map
- Glynn County Evacuation Routes Map
- Glynn County’s Emergency Advisory Radio System: tune FM Radio to 104.9
- Register for Georgia Power outage updates
Re-Entry System
Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) and Homeland Security (HS) have established a new statewide re-entry system and certification process following a disaster in Georgia. House Bill 405 established a new, state-wide re-entry system during a state of emergency declared by the Governor. The system will be managed by GEMA/HS, and Jekyll Island will abide by this new system. This new system replaces the re-entry systems previously used by the JIA and Glynn County following Hurricanes Matthew and Irma.
Please carefully read and review the details regarding the new re-entry system below. For more information about permits and re-entry, please review the GEMA Re-Entry Standard Operating Guide.
It is important to note, under the new re-entry system, phases 2 and 3 require permits that can only be issued by GEMA/HS, not Glynn County or the Jekyll Island Authority. Organizations, businesses, and non-profits wishing to seek re-entry access to Jekyll Island during phases 2 and 3 are now required to apply through the state. The purpose of this permitting process is to control access so that those responding to life-threatening hazards, repairing critical infrastructure, and restoring essential commerce can perform those necessary tasks prior to public re-entry. For more information about permits, review the GEMA Re-Entry Standard Operating Guide.
GEMA Re-Entry System
Render Safe Task Force Team Entry
During this phase, authorized teams from state and local response agencies, as well as private sector utility providers, will gain access to impacted areas. The primary objective of operating personnel during this phase is to render the area safe for the first responders who will follow them to conduct life safety operations. Most likely, members of the Render Safe Task Forces will be co-located immediately before re-entry operations begin in inland-defined Forward Staging Areas (FSAs). These teams will be the first officials to enter restricted areas; therefore, re-entry permits will not be required (as the task forces will have embedded law enforcement officials).
Emergency Response and Life Safety Workforce Re-Entry
Personnel conducting life safety operations in impacted areas. These operations include but are not limited to: search and rescue, emergency medical services, fire suppression, hazardous materials control and containment, preliminary damage assessment, essential relief staff to critical medical facilities, and immediate utility restoration to critical incident facilities. Personnel entering impacted areas during Phase 2 should be prepared to present an Official State of Georgia Re-Entry Permit, employee credentials, and a valid state-issued identification card to public safety personnel controlling access. All personnel and equipment entering an impacted area during Phase 2 and beyond must maintain self-sustaining capabilities.
Essential Public and Private Sector Personnel Re-Entry
Individuals in the public and private sectors that can restore essential operations, services, and commerce in support of re-entry by the general public. These systems and networks include but are not limited to: petroleum distributors, food distributors, non-emergency medical facilities (such as dialysis centers), pharmaceutical providers, members of the media, medical facility support staff, and local government essential workers. Re-entry permit issuance for this phase will require close coordination among state and local emergency management and with local public safety officials to ensure that the appropriate individuals and private sector partners are being allowed access to damaged areas.
Local Residents, Property Owners, and Business Owners
Local residents and those who own property or businesses in the impacted areas. The timeframe of this phase is dependent upon the extent of the damage caused by the hazard and the status of recovery and restoration operations in the preceding phases. During Phase 4 of re-entry, access may be limited to certain portions of impacted counties, and restrictions may be in place that only allows access during daylight hours. Residents and individuals attempting to gain access during this phase will be expected to present valid state-issued photo identification that includes an address in the impacted area; or, valid state-issued photo identification along with a property deed, recent utility bill verifying an address, current voter registration card, recent property tax statement, business credential, or paystub from a local business. No Official State of Georgia Re-Entry Permits are issued for Phase 4 of re-entry. All personnel and equipment entering an impacted area during Phase 4 and beyond must maintain self-sustaining capabilities.
Open to Public with Limited Access
In Phase 5, local officials will determine that a county or portions of the county are relatively safe for entrance by the general public. Restrictions may remain in place for a period of time limiting access to daylight hours.
For FEMA inquiries related to Jekyll Island, please submit a contact form below.
Flooding
Flooding on Jekyll Island can be caused by severe weather, including tropical storms and hurricanes and it’s important to be prepared in the event flooding impacts your property. The areas most prone to flooding are along the beach and marshes. Floodwaters can cover streets up to two or three feet deep and can come with little warning.
Please take heed of any storm and hurricane warnings on Jekyll Island. Download our Flood Preparedness Pamphlet for information on how to protect your property. For a base elevation certification, contact the Director of Conservation at 912.635.9384.
Below are links for more information:
- FEMA Flood Maps, Insurance and Information
- FEMA Insurance
- National Flood Insurance Program
- FEMA Floodplain Management Quick Guide
- Flood Prevention Ordinance
- Floodplain Use Permit Information
- Flooding – What You Need to Know
- Stream Dumping Ordinance
- Floodplain Development Permit Application
- USGS Real-Time Tide Gauge
Police
Police protection is provided by the Georgia State Patrol. The patrol post is located adjacent to the Guest Information Center at 901 Downing Musgrove Parkway. Always dial 911 for emergencies. Non-emergency calls can be made by calling 912.635.2303.
Utilizing the 911 system is the most efficient way to handle emergency calls. By calling 911, it enables many advanced features to locate and gather information about the emergency that can not be obtained by dialing Emergency Services directly. Everyone is encouraged to call 911 for ALL emergencies. The Jekyll Island Fire Department and the Georgia State Patrol continue to be Fire, EMS, and Law Enforcement providers on the island.
Utility Services
For information regarding utility services on Jekyll Island–including service restorations following weather-related outages—please visit jekyllisland.com/utilities.
Firewise Community
Jekyll Island is a recognized Firewise Community. The Firewise Communities Program encourages local solutions for safety by involving homeowners in taking individual responsibility for preparing their homes from the risk of wildfire. The program provides resources to help homeowners learn how to adapt to living with wildfire and encourages neighbors to work together to take action now to prevent losses.