Stormy weather is approaching from the Gulf of Mexico, and is likely to bring much needed rainfall – but maybe too much as both state and federal officials have placed Georgia under emergency and disaster declarations before Tropical Storm Helene even arrives.
The storm that formed this morning in the Gulf of Mexico is on track to become a hurricane as it heads past Cuba and the Yucatan Peninsula toward the Florida Panhandle and on track to remain a tropical storm as it breaks up over the state later this week.
Governor Brian Kemp issued a State of Emergency for all of Georgia ahead of Helene’s arrival, and President Joe Biden also approved a “major disaster declaration” for FEMA to assist the state as well today.
Tropical Storm Helene formed in the western Caribbean earlier this morning after forecasters began watching the cyclone form in the warm waters.
Local officials are already keeping a watchful eye on Helene’s developments. Polk School District noted earlier this afternoon in a social media posting that the are monitoring updates and are planning for an impact on Thursday and/or Friday.
“In an effort to help you best plan and prepare, we will provide an update regarding any potential delays or cancellations after 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 25. We appreciate your understanding and continued partnership,” the posting added.
More information is expected on Wednesday.
The forecast is also a major concern for Polk County Emergency Management Agency officials.
Emergency Management Director Bobby Dockery is cautioning not to follow the track of the storm, but consider the overall impact on Polk County: a lot of rain, potential for tropical storm-level winds and localized flooding.
“We are looking at the Peachtree City area – a coverage area of the vast majority of the state – four inches of rain including the rain coming in starting tomorrow night,” Dockery said.
Some of that rain is coming from an unrelated system set to begin impacting Polk County starting on Wednesday morning. EMA officials are set to host a briefing for local officials starting at 12:30 p.m. over Tropical Storm (likely soon-to-be Hurricane) Helene.
Dockery said that locals concerned about impacts should begin preparing now.
“If you have things outside that are likely to get blown around in the wind, you need to secure them as soon as possible,” Dockery said.
He also cautioned that residents should be prepared for the “potential for power outages” if trees are knocked down and power lines that could become tangled up in the damage.
Check back for additional updates through the rest of the week as the forecast develops.
