Bryan County is under a tropical storm watch, according to the National Weather Service. Hurricane Michael is expected to make landfall Wednesday on the Florida panhandle and may move northward through Georgia. The National Weather Service says Bryan County may experience heavy rain beginning tonight.
County school officials say they are monitoring the storm and will announce later whether school will be in session later in the week.
Coastal Electric Cooperative, which serves 19,000 customers in parts of Bryan, Liberty, Long and McIntosh counties , issued the following:
Coastal Electric Cooperative is preparing for Hurricane Michael as it makes its way toward Florida and Georgia. Although the timing and potential impact to the co-op’s service territory continues to change, co-op representatives have contingency plans in place and will be prepared for any damage associated with the event.
"It's still too early to tell what Michael may bring in the way of damage to our area, but forecasts currently are predicting the possibility of tropical storm force winds and rain.” says Chris Fettes, chief operating officer with Coastal Electric Cooperative. “Residents should be assured that we are prepared and ready to restore service as quickly as possible in the event we’re affected by this storm.”
Coastal Electric has been in contact with other electric cooperatives within Georgia as well as nearby states to request help and additional support if needed. To date, Kentucky, Arkansas, Virginia and Tennessee have pledged crews and equipment to help restore power to Georgia’s electric co-op customers, if needed.
To be ready for any eventuality, Georgia’s electric co-ops have mobilized all key personnel and additional contract crews, prepared trucks with emergency equipment and increased supplies of materials should the effects of the storm become severe. Key staff members have also been in contact with other emergency service providers such as local EMAs, Police, Fire and Public Works.
Coastal Electric Cooperative customers can download a free mobile app to report outages and view an outage map.
Tropical Storm Watch
8:01 AM EDT Tue Oct 9 2018 ...TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT... * LOCATIONS AFFECTED - Richmond Hill - Pembroke - Keller* WIND - LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: Below tropical storm force wind - Peak Wind Forecast: 20-30 mph with gusts to 45 mph - POTENTIAL THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY: Potential for wind 58 to 73 mph - The wind threat has remained nearly steady from the previous assessment. - PLAN: Plan for dangerous wind of equivalent strong tropical storm force due to possible forecast changes in track, size, or intensity. - PREPARE: Remaining efforts to protect life and property should be completed as soon as possible. Prepare for significant wind damage. - ACT: Move to safe shelter before the wind becomes hazardous. - POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Significant - Some damage to roofing and siding materials, along with damage to porches, awnings, carports, and sheds. A few buildings experiencing window, door, and garage door failures. Mobile homes damaged, especially if unanchored. Unsecured lightweight objects become dangerous projectiles. - Several large trees snapped or uprooted, but with greater numbers in places where trees are shallow rooted. - Some roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban or heavily wooded places. A few bridges and access routes impassable. - Travel by vehicle or on foot increasingly difficult. Danger of death or injury from falling objects such as trees or electric wires outside. - Scattered power and communications outages, but more prevalent in areas with above ground lines, which could persist for hours or days. - Some poorly secured small craft could break loose from their moorings. * FLOODING RAIN - LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: - Peak Rainfall Amounts: Additional 2-4 inches, with locally higher amounts - POTENTIAL THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY: Potential for localized flooding rain - The flooding rain threat has remained nearly steady from the previous assessment. - PLAN: Emergency plans should include the potential for localized flooding from heavy rain. - PREPARE: Consider protective actions if you are in an area vulnerable to flooding. - ACT: Heed any flood watches and warnings. - POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Limited - Localized rainfall flooding could prompt a few rescues. - Rivers and tributaries could quickly rise with swifter currents. Small streams, creeks, canals, and ditches could become swollen and overflow in spots. - Flood waters can enter a few structures, especially in normally vulnerable spots. Rapid ponding of water could occur at underpasses, low-lying spots, and poor drainage areas. Several storm drains and retention ponds become near-full and begin to overflow. Some brief road and bridge closures. * TORNADO - LATEST LOCAL FORECAST: - Situation is somewhat favorable for tornadoes - POTENTIAL THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY: Potential for a few tornadoes - The tornado threat has remained nearly steady from the previous assessment. - PLAN: Emergency plans should include the potential for a few tornadoes. - PREPARE: If your shelter is particularly vulnerable to tornadoes, prepare to relocate to safe shelter before hazardous weather arrives. - ACT: If a tornado warning is issued, be ready to shelter quickly. - POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Limited - Isolated tornadoes can hinder the execution of emergency plans. - Isolated locations could experience tornado damage, along with power and communications disruptions. - In isolated locations, tornadoes could damage trees, vehicles, boats and buildings, especially mobile homes and other poorly constructed structures. * FOR MORE INFORMATION: - https://weather.gov/chs - https://ready.gov/hurricanes $$