Tuesday, June 25, 2024–10:48 a.m.

-David Crowder, WRGA News-

The National Weather Service is warning that it could be a very active hurricane season this year.

Emergency Management Agencies and public utilities across Georgia are already getting prepared, even those that are inland, like Rome and Floyd County.

“As far as we are concerned, we don’t have to worry about the actual hurricanes with the storm surge and things like that,” said Floyd County Emergency Management Agency Director Tim Herrington. “We have to worry about what’s coming off of that when a hurricane makes landfall. That could be anything from flash flooding, spin-up tornadoes, and power outages. And then, even with all that going on, if we don’t experience anything, then we still have to be prepared for an influx of people who are evacuating from coastal areas that could possibly be heading this way. So, it’s going to be a very busy time this year.”

Emergency management and members of the fire department recently met with Georgia Power officials.

“We got the opportunity look at their operations center and look on their social media center set up there,” Herrington said. “We also got the opportunity to view some of the equipment that they use when they do have to go out and respond to emergencies in different areas of the state.”

You can learn more about hurricane preparedness at gema.georgia.gov/hurricanes.