Hurricane Michael prompts Georgia state of emergency for damaging winds, flash flooding

As Hurricane Michael continues to pick up steam in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Middle Georgians are urged to brace for damaging winds, flash flooding and possible tornadoes.

Governor Nathan Deal declared a state of emergency Tuesday for 92 Georgia counties south of a line from about Columbus to Macon to Augusta. A list of the declared counties is below.

The Macon-Bibb County Emergency Management Agency will open its Emergency Operations Center at about 8 a.m. Wednesday, director Spencer Hawkins said.

“The word of the day is preparedness,” Hawkins said.

Everyone is encouraged to have disaster supplies at hand.

The National Hurricane Center expects tropical storm force winds of at least 40 mph could hit the Macon area by about 9 a.m. Wednesday after winds were already gusting to 31 mph at about 6 a.m Tuesday.

By midday Tuesday, the National Weather Service issued a Tropical Storm Watch for Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Macon, Marion, Peach, Schley, Taylor, Twiggs, Washington, Wilkinson, Chattahoochee, Glascock, Bleckley, Crisp, Dodge, Dooly, Emanuel, Jefferson, Johnson, Laurens, Montgomery, Pulaski, Stewart, Sumter, Treutlen and Webster counties.

Those watches will likely be upgraded to storm warnings as Michael gets closer and the threat is imminent. At 5:00 p.m. the hurricane was upgraded to a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds to near 120 mph with higher gusts. Some additional strengthening was expected and it was expected to be a major hurricane at landfall in Florida.

Those living in southern sections of Georgia will feel the impact from heavy rain and potential tornadoes before the strongest winds reach the area.

Hurricane force winds extend out about 45 miles from the center of circulation and the tropical storm force winds can be felt 175 winds out from the eye of Michael.

After the storm makes landfall in Florida early Wednesday, the remnants of Michael are expected to accelerate northeastward and move across portions of Middle Georgia through early Thursday.

“During the height of the storm, winds of 25 to 40 mph will be possible with gusts as high as 60 mph across portions of central Georgia, with the strongest winds roughly south of Columbus and Macon,” the advisory stated.

The heaviest Georgia rain from Michael is expected to fall Wednesday afternoon through Thursday morning with widespread totals of up to 5 inches possible and locally higher amounts near 7 inches.

Hawkins urges everyone in the Macon area to stay home Wednesday evening until the storm clears the area Thursday.

“Whether it’s a major hurricane or a tropical storm, 40, 50, 60 mph winds are extremely dangerous,” Hawkins said. “That can very easily bring down trees, power lines, push cars along the road. And so, that’s why we’re asking everybody when the storm is going through please stay inside and stay safe.”

A Flash Flood Watch has been issued for communities along and south of a line from Madison County to Chattahoochee County from 2 p.m. Wednesday until 2 p.m. Thursday.

With interstate construction through Macon, motorists are urged to use caution as flooding could occur where storm water drains are being redesigned.

The strongest winds in Georgia are expected along and south of a line from Warrenton to Macon to Columbus.

Forecasters say the maximum winds and rainfall areas could shift if the hurricane veers off its projected course in the coming hours.

Everyone is urged to keep a close eye on the updating forecasts and prepare for the worst from this dangerous hurricane.

Although more counties could be added, here is the list declared a stated of emergency as of 10 a.m. Tuesday: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Baker, Baldwin, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bibb, Bleckley, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Calhoun, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Chattahoochee, Clay, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Crawford, Crisp, Decatur, Dodge, Dooly, Dougherty, Early, Echols, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Glascock, Glynn, Grady, Hancock, Houston, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Jones, Lanier, Laurens, Lee, Liberty, Long, Lowndes, Macon, Marion, McIntosh, Miller, Mitchell, Montgomery, Muscogee, Peach, Pierce, Pulaski, Quitman, Randolph, Richmond, Schley, Screven, Seminole, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Tattnall, Taylor, Telfair, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Turner, Twiggs, Upson, Ware, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Wheeler, Wilcox, Wilkinson and Worth counties.

This story was originally published October 9, 2018 at 7:51 AM.