In a statement, Deal said he was acting on a recommendation from the state’s Emergency Operations Command in anticipation of Tropical Storm Hermine’s imminent Florida landfall,
The state of emergency goes into effect at noon today and extends through midnight Saturday.
In addition, a flash flood watch continues for portions of east central Georgia and central South Carolina including the counties of Burke, Columbia, McDuffie, Richmond, Aiken, Bamberg and Barwnell.
According to the National Weather Service, from Friday morning through late Friday night there is a risk of heavy rain and flooding as Tropical Storm Hermine moves across the region. Total rainfall amounts of 3 TO 6 inches are expected and flooding could occur quickly.
“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.
As of 5 a.m. today, Hermine was centered about 275 miles west-southwest of Tampa, and was moving north-northeast near 12 mph (19 kph).
A tropical storm warning has been issued for a section of the U.S. East Coast as Tropical Storm Hermine approaches Florida from the Gulf of Mexico.
The warning covers an area that extends from Marineland, Florida, northward to the South Santee River in South Carolina.
A hurricane warning was already in effect for a section of Florida’s Gulf coast from the Suwanne River to Mexico Beach. Tropical storm warnings are in effect for other sections of Florida’s Gulf coast.
Hermine’s maximum sustained winds remain near 60 mph (95 kph). Forecasters say Hermine is expected to become a hurricane by the time it makes landfall on Florida’s coast tonight or early Friday.
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©2016 The Augusta Chronicle (Augusta, Ga.)
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