Atlanta convenes citywide emergency plana head of severe weather system forecasts

ATLANTA—The City of Atlanta convened a citywide emergency coordination meeting to assess readiness for severe weather expected Friday night through Saturday, Oct. 10. 

City departments, public safety agencies, emergency management officials and utility partners confirmed operational readiness, enhanced staffing and coordinated response plans.

The primary concerns are damaging overnight winds, widespread power outages, fallen trees, heavy rainfall, localized flooding and an elevated tornado threat Saturday afternoon and evening.

The City’s Joint Operations Center (JOC) was activated at on Friday, Oct. 9, at 7 p.m. Departments will maintain emergency staffing and coordinate through the weekend.

Emergency shelters:

The City is activating the following locations as emergency shelters for our unhoused residents as follows beginning at 11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9:

Selena Butler Recreation Center for Women and Children ONLY, located at 98 William Holmes Borders Senior Drive SE, Atlanta 

Rev. James Orange Park Recreation Center for MEN ONLY, located at 1305 Oakland Drive S.W., Atlanta 

Outreach teams are being deployed to connect with individuals experiencing homelessness and provide transportation to available shelter locations.

Several events  scheduled this weekend have been canceled or postponed due to expected severe weather. 

In addition to the postponement of the Mayor’s 5K on the Runway held at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport,the following planned weekend event known updates are as follows:

• City recreation centers | Closed Saturday |
• City golf courses | Closed Saturday |
• Youth football, cheer and recreation programming | Canceled Saturday |
• Parks movie nights | Canceled Friday and Saturday |
• Atlanta Pride Saturday activities | Canceled |
• Atlanta Pride Sunday festival and parade | Planned to proceed |
• SpelHouse homecoming tailgate | Moved to Sunday |
• Cook Park Family Fest | Canceled |
• City Climate Week outdoor kickoff events | Canceled Saturday |
• Airport race | Postponed; new date pending |

Sunday events remain subject to weather conditions and operational assessments.

Additional City of Atlanta preparedness measures: 

Atlanta Police Department: Maintaining 12-hour shifts and enhanced staffing to address emergencies, traffic control, road closures and weekend events. 

Atlanta Fire Rescue Department: Fully staffed, with additional tree-removal trucks, swift-water rescue capabilities and rapid response units available.

E-911: Maintaining 12-hour schedules, with backup dispatch arrangements and contingency procedures for tornado warnings. 

Department of Corrections: Prepared to support emergency shelter operations.

Atlanta Department of Transportation: Up to 50 personnel assigned to storm response, including flood-prone roadway monitoring and barricade deployment. 

Department of Watershed Management: Staffing operational positions by midnight Friday. 

Department of Public Works: Prepared for debris removal, street sweeping and fuel support. 

Department of Parks and Recreation: Forestry and parks maintenance crews on standby, with additional crews scheduled Sunday.

Tips for residents:

• Make your preparations now. Charge phones and backup batteries, secure loose items around your home, gather medications and essential supplies and make sure everyone in your household knows the plan.
• Stay weather-aware. Have more than one way to receive emergency alerts. Monitor National Weather Service updates and sign up for NotifyATL. Do not rely solely on social media for emergency information. 
• Sign up for NotifyATL by by texting “NOTIFYATL” to 888-777 or visiting www.atlantaga.gov/notifyatl
• Take flooding seriously. Never drive or walk through flooded streets. You cannot always tell how deep the water is or whether the roadway underneath has been damaged. Turn around and find another route.
• Know when to get indoors. If severe weather threatens, seek shelter in a sturdy building, stay away from windows and follow emergency instructions. Outdoor events and travel plans can wait when conditions become dangerous.

Pets:

• Per CDC: Do not forget about your pets. Bring pets indoors before severe weather arrives. Never leave them tied up. Keep identification on them and have leashes, carriers, food, water and medications ready if you need to move quickly. Know where you can take them if you must leave home, and after the storm, keep them close until you know the area is safe.
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