Tropical storm watch issued for 8 local counties
LATEST UPDATES: How Idalia is affecting the CSRA
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - With Hurricane Idalia on a path for the CSRA, local residents are preparing.
In our region, a tropical storm watch was issued for Bamberg, Barnwell, Burke, Emanuel, Glascock, Jefferson, Johnson and Washington counties. The heavy rain threat will be widespread across the CSRA, all of which is under a flood watch, with the southern CSRA facing a risk of isolated tornadoes.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on Tuesday declared a state of emergency for all of Georgia, and South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster followed suit in the Palmetto State.
Utilities in Georgia and South Carolina Augusta Red Cross is sending five volunteers to help those affected in points south.
Among the school districts closing Wednesday are Screven County, Jenkins County, Emanuel County, Johnson County and Glascock County. Dismissing early Wednesday are Bamberg County, Barnwell County and Aiken County. Some other districts are canceling after-school or outdoor activities, including athletic practices and games.
MORE FROM NEWS 12:
- List of CSRA school closures due to possible impacts from Idalia
- Idalia strengthens, pushing a surge of ocean water, strong winds
- ‘I’ of the storm: 1 letter is bad luck for hurricane names
- Why you should inventory your property before Idalia arrives
- Ga., S.C. utilities deploy crews in key spots ahead of storm
The storm is on a path for the west coast of Florida before continuing northward inland on a path that could take it right through the CSRA – although it’ll be weaker by the time it reaches us.
Even if the center of the storm doesn’t over Augusta, we’ll be affected by wind and rain on Idalia’s fringes. And we could see some visitors fleeing regions hit by the storm.
Areas across the CSRA could get 3-6 inches of rain, bringing a threat of flooding.
Florida is expected to get much more of a lashing before the storm weakens over land.
The center of Idalia will most likely make landfall Wednesday as a Category 3 hurricane in the lightly populated Big Bend area of the Gulf Coast.
As it moves north, it will drench Georgia along with the Carolinas.
Winds exceeding 40 mph are expected across southeastern Georgia and gusts of 75 mph or higher will be possible in extreme southern Georgia as well as along the entire immediate coastline late Wednesday morning through the afternoon.
Georgia intends to be ready for the storm. Kemp activated a state emergency operations center to monitor and prepare for any impacts. Staff from state agencies will closely monitor the storm.
After declaring the state of emergency on Tuesday, Kemp said: “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.”
McMaster said the South Carolina state of emergency “allows all of our agencies to move more quickly, move people and equipment, and to remove restrictions, if necessary, that slow things down.” He said the state is prepared to set up shelters if needed.
The CSRA’s utilities say they’re prepared, and you should be, too.
Georgia Power has placed crews in strategic spots across the state – especially central, southern and coastal areas – to cut response times in dealing with outages. Across the Savannah River, Dominion Energy has done the same.
Jefferson Energy, which serves a large area of the CSRA, also said it’s prepared for the storm and is “always a call away” if a neighboring electric cooperative is in need.
The utilities and state officials urge residents to have an emergency kit with essentials like flashlights, batteries, a portable radio, first aid supplies, bottled water and non-perishable food.
Also before the storm arrives, state officials say you should take an inventory of your possessions, just in case your home is damaged and you have to file a claim. And it’s not a bad idea to reach out to your insurance agent to go over your policy and what’s covered.
Cancellations and postponements
- Augusta Regional Airport officials decided to postpone Rock for Cops on the Runway scheduled for Saturday. All patrons who have purchased tickets have been notified of options for refund. The new date for the event has not been announced.
- The Aiken County Best Friend Express buses will end operations early Wednesday: Red Route (Aiken Express) at 4 p.m., Green Route (Aiken Metro) at 4:30 p.m. and Blue Route (North Augusta/Augusta) at 5 p.m.
- All Francis Marion and Sumter National Forest recreation areas and offices will be closed Wednesday.
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