Deal declares state of emergency ahead of Tropical Storm Hermine

Acting on a recommendation from the state’s Emergency Operations Command in anticipation of Tropical Storm Hermine’s imminent Florida landfall, Gov. Nathan Deal today signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency for 56 counties. The state of emergency is in effect through midnight Saturday.

“Georgia is expected to receive severe weather related to Tropical Storm Hermine through Saturday,” Deal said. “We are working to ensure counties in South, Central and coastal Georgia have access to the state resources necessary to prepare and respond when Tropical Storm Hermine enters Georgia. Our Emergency Operations Command will continue closely monitoring this storm and additional counties may be included in this declaration as needed.”

The declaration includes the following counties: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan,  Bulloch, Burke, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Crisp, Decatur, Dodge, Echols, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Glynn, Grady, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson,  Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Long, Lowndes, McIntosh, Mitchell, Montgomery, Pierce, Richmond, Screven, Seminole, Tattnall, Telfair, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Turner, Ware, Wayne, Wheeler, Wilcox and Worth counties.

Under Director Jim Butterworth, the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMHSA) is coordinating disaster preparation efforts throughout the potentially affected areas with assistance from the Georgia Department of Transportation , the  Department of Public Safety and the Department of Natural Resources. GEMHSA is also working with local authorities to ensure resources and assistance are made available. Evacuation shelters will open in communities as needed.

Georgia Power offers safety tips and resources in preparation for tropical Storm Hermine

With Tropical Storm Hermine expected to bring heavy rains and high winds to Georgia over the next 36 hours, Georgia Power is monitoring the changing weather around the clock, mobilizing crews and preparing to respond to any service interruptions which may occur.

The company reminds customers to keep safety first during severe weather and offers the following storm tips:

• Before a Storm: Stay aware and check the weather forecast before heading outdoors. Turn off air conditioners as power surges can overload them and charge cell phones in case you lose power.
• During a Storm: Take safe shelter inside a sturdy building, away from windows and doors. Avoid contact with conductors of electricity – appliances, metal objects and water.
• After a Storm: Never touch any downed wire or low hanging wire, including telephone or TV wires that touch a power line. Never pull tree limbs off of power lines yourself or enter areas with debris or downed trees as downed power lines may be buried in wreckage.

Tools You Can Use

• Outage Alerts – Subscribe to the free Georgia Power Outage Alert service to receive personalized notifications and updates via text message.
• Outage & Storm Center – Available at www.georgiapower.com/storm, customers can visit this site to sign up for Outage Alerts, report and check the status of outages, and access useful safety tips and information.   Customers can also report and check the status of an outage 24 hours a day by contacting Georgia Power at 888-891-0938.
• Outage Map – Housed within the Outage & Storm Center, Georgia Power’s interactive Outage Map provides near real-time information, allowing users to see where outages are occurring across the state and track estimated restoration times.
• Georgia Power Mobile App – Download the Georgia Power mobile app for Apple and Android devices to access storm and outage information on the go. Use the app anytime to access account information and mobile bill payment options, as well as energy efficiency tools.
• @GeorgiaPower on Twitter – Follow @GeorgiaPower on Twitter for storm tips, outage updates, customer service and more.

GA Dept. of Driver Services (DDS) Weather-Related Closings

 Forecasts for Tropical Storm Hermine has prompted the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) to close the following driver’s licensing and testing centers Friday, Sept. 2, 2016:

Albany

Augusta

Bainbridge

Brunswick

Cordele

Cuthbert

Douglas

Dublin

Evans

Helena

Hinesville

Kingsland

Reidsville

Rincon

Savannah

Statesboro

Swainsboro

Thomasville

Tifton

Valdosta

Waycross