The Great Ogeechee Seafood Festival committee has announced the 2016 event — scheduled for this coming weekend in J.F. Gregory Park — has now officially been called off.

“We made this decision with a heavy heart, but in light of the developments of Hurricane Matthew it’s the responsible thing to do,” said committee chair Tim Proffitt.

The committee met with Richmond Hill officials Monday morning before making the decision.

“We’re more concerned with people getting their lives back to normal,” Proffitt said. “We’re fortunate everyone survived but now they need to concentrate on moving forward.”

Proffitt said there are “too many moving parts” to the event to try and reschedule it yet this year.

“We spend a year planning this,” he said. “But now we’re already looking ahead to next year for the biggest and best ever festival.”

This is the first time in the history of the GOSF that it has been called off.