July 26, 2024
ATLANTA — Gov. Brian Kemp issued a State of Emergency order covering the entire state as Georgia prepares for Hurricane Idalia.
Storm tracking predicts the storm to make landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast Wednesday morning, and travel across northern Florida, South Georgia and coastal South Carolina before heading back out into the Atlantic Ocean. Idalia is expected to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds, potentially causing damage across the southeastern part of the state.
The State of Emergency went into effect immediately and will expire at midnight Friday, Sept. 28.
"We are taking every precaution ahead of Hurricane Idalia's landfall tomorrow, and I am taking this additional executive action to ensure state assets are ready to respond," Kemp said. "Georgians in the expected impact area can and should take necessary steps to ensure their safety and that of their families. We are well positioned to respond to whatever Idalia may bring."
On Monday, Georgia activated its State Operations Center to ensure that all relevant state, local, and federal agencies are coordinate on storm preparations and response.
At 11 a.m. EDT Tuesday, Idalia was about 275 miles south-southwest of Tampa, with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph, the National Hurricane Center said. It was moving north at 14 mph.
In Georgia, the following counties ate under a Hurricane Warning: Brooks, Lowndes, Lanier, Echols, Clinch, Ware, and Charlton Countie. Pierce and Brantley Counties are under a Hurricane Watch. Much of the rest of Southeast and South-Central Georgia is under a Tropical Storm Warning.
Visit www.gema.georgia.gov for more information.
