With Hurricane Ian bearing down on Florida and Tropical Storm Warnings popping up along the Georgia coast, power companies are bracing for the worst. Georgia Power and the state’s electric membership cooperatives anticipate possible widespread power outages from high winds associated with the storm.
In preparation, Georgia’s EMCs have activated their disaster response plans. They’ve put equipment in place and personnel on standby to respond to power outages, if needed.
Georgia Power, too, is preparing. The state’s largest utility provider says it’s now securing resources and adjusting plans – readying to restore power “as quickly and safely as possible.”
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Local preparations and stocking up
Local emergency management agencies in North Georgia are keeping a close eye on Hurricane Ian’s trajectory. A shift to the west by 75–100 miles would place White and Habersham counties and surrounding areas on the east side of the storm and would increase the threat of severe weather. If the storm remains to the west, the impacts on Northeast Georgia likely will be minimal, says White County Emergency Service Division Chief Don Strength.
No matter the track, Chief Strength says the threat of sustained winds ahead of Ian is something to watch out for. Northeast Georgia will be caught between high pressure to the northeast and low pressure (Ian) to the south. The pressure gradient between the two systems could produce elevated sustained winds as early as Wednesday afternoon and continue through the weekend.
In Habersham County, EMA plans to begin briefing department heads Wednesday afternoon.
“We are asking for folks to continue to monitor just as we are due to the uncertainty of the storm,” says Habersham County Emergency Management Director Lynn Smith. “Until we know the true path, we are expecting wind and up to 3 plus inches of rain.”
Electric service providers and emergency personnel suggest Georgians in the storm’s path prepare now by stocking their pantries with non-perishable goods and water and putting together a hurricane emergency supply kit. Items in the kit should include cell phones with external chargers, radios, flashlights, extra batteries and a whistle, medicine, baby food, diapers, and pet food, among other things.
Other home preparations
Georgia Power offers these additional safety tips for anyone caught in the path of Hurricane Ian:
Before a storm: Stay aware and check the weather forecast before heading outdoors. Check your emergency kit, unplug major appliances 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 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.
Get phone numbers and online access to other important tools from your utility provider so you can report and track outages if and when they occur.
Dean Dyer of WRWH Radio contributed to this report
