Atlanta News category interest

Hurricane Helene, a massively Category 4 storm, is set to be one of the largest systems GA has experienced, state officials noted Thursday.

GEORGIA — State officials continue to buckle down on preparations for Category 4 Hurricane Helene, with Gov. Brian Kemp vowing all hands will be on deck to help residents recover from the catastrophic storm.

"I promise you we will respond with full force as soon as it’s safe to do so," Kemp said at a news conference.

He added Helene, at 500 miles wide, is one of the largest systems Georgia has experienced.

Helene was traveling at 130 mph winds in the Gulf of Mexico as of The National Hurricane Center's 6:20 p.m. update. The system was an "extremely dangerous hurricane" closing in on the northeast Gulf.

"Catastrophic storm surge and life-threatening winds expected in the Florida Big Bend area," the NHC said around 8:30 p.m.

The NHC said the Air Force Hurricane Hunters deemed Helene a major hurricane, and the storm is expected to gain strength.

"At this point, it doesn't really matter what category the storm is," Kemp said. "It's one of the biggest that we've ever seen in the Atlantic from a size perspective on the width of it."

He added state officials will use all available assets for storm response. Helene could be worse than Hurricane Debby, which killed six people in Georgia and Florida in early August.

Helene is forecast to rush north Florida as a Category 4 storm, and as it moves inland into Georgia, Kemp said the quick-paced storm could keep its hurricane strength as it travels through Macon and possibly into metro Atlanta.

As for a timeline, Helene could arrive at sunset Thursday through sunrise Friday in South Georgia, 10 p.m.-10 a.m. in middle Georgia and midnight-noon in north Georgia, Kemp said. Helene is expected to exit Georgia at midday Friday.

"This will be a statewide event," Kemp said.

He asked drivers to stay off of roadways so debris could be cleared from roads.

U.S. President Joe Biden approved on Thursday an emergency declaration in Georgia, making federal assistance available at the state and local levels amid the life-threatening Hurricane Helene.

Biden's approval permits the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide disaster relief efforts, according to a White House news release. (See county assistance by tiers below.)

State officials said readiness for the large system should be near completion as of its 10 a.m. Thursday update.

Helene could conjure destructive waves and a storm surge inundation of up to 20 feet in Florida, including near the state's west coast, the NHC said. Hurricane-force winds could be a problem with the widespread storm.

Evacuations were underway via bus and Uber in the Big Bend, the Associated Press reported. The area includes Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Taylor, Wakulla and Washington counties.

As of mid-Thursday afternoon, Georgia was hosting 215 Florida evacuees at its state parks.

After pounding north Florida, Helene is expected to enter Georgia's southern region and push its way throughout the Peach State. With Helene's size, they have maintained all of Georgia's 159 counties could be impacted by the hurricane.

Tornadoes, damaging and life-threatening hurricane-force winds, wind gusts of up to 57 mph and peak rainfall amounts of at least 3-6 inches of rain are expected, according to the NHC and the National Weather Service's Peachtree City office.

About 2-4 inches of rain could drop along the Interstate 85 corridor, Stallings said.

Not only has Kemp issued a state of emergency in all of Georgia, but he has also activated the State Operations Center.

Georgia officials have requested additional generators from New Jersey, said Director Chris Stallings of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency and Homeland Security.

He added emergency lanes are being cleared, so any vehicles left on the roadside may be taken away from the area.

"The current forecast for Hurricane Helene suggests this storm will impact every part of our state," Kemp said in a news release. "We are not taking anything for granted, which is why I have directed appropriate state agencies to work around the clock to ensure we're prepared for whatever is heading our way. I want to thank them for their diligence and ask that all Georgians make preparations now to keep their families and property safe."

The current trajectory of Helene indicates the storm will sneak near the top of Georgia by 7 a.m. Friday, but emergency management officials have said impacts can begin sometime Thursday evening.

Rain totals could reach 8-12 inches in some areas between downpours from Wednesday to Friday, with more possible in the northeast Georgia mountains.

Damage from Helene could cost more than from Hurricane Michael, which had a price tag of nearly $1.9 million in federal funding for recovery in October 2018 in 18 U.S. counties.

RELATED: Some GA Schools Closed, Events Canceled Due To Hurricane Helene

School closures were underway throughout Georgia in preparation for Helene. Some Georgia counties have declared a local state of emergency.

Meanwhile, another tropical storm is expected to reach hurricane strength by the weekend.

Georgia on Standby

At least 250 national guardsmen were deployed, but Kemp said up to 500 guardsmen could be called upon during storm response.

The Georgia National Guard is "prepared to do whatever that we need to do," Maj. Gen. Dwayne Wilson said.

The Department of Natural Resources called up 120 rangers, seven task force teams and 24 strike teams to help conduct water rescues and clear roads, among other duties.

All Georgia troopers are on duty, Kemp said, who stressed people to remain off of the roadways. The governor said power companies are also ready for power outages.

Other agencies on standby are the Georgia Forestry Commission, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Georgia Department of Corrections.

Search and rescue teams are staged in Macon and Gainesville, Kemp said.

Eight shelters have been opened statewide, and 30 American Red Cross agencies stand ready to establish additional shelters, if needed, Stallings said.

Kemp encouraged residents to be mindful of their pets during the storm.

Watches and Warnings

Hurricane warnings are in effect in parts of southwest Georgia, including Lowndes County, where Hurricane Debby ripped through the area in early August.

The tropical warning in Lamar, Monroe and Upson counties has been upgraded to a hurricane warning.

Metro Atlanta is under a tropical storm warning. The NWS forecasts potentially impassable roads and extreme flooding.

The tropical storm warning was issued for Bartow, Barrow, Douglas, DeKalb, Forsyth, Fayette, Cobb, Clayton, Meriwether, Rockdale, Fulton, Spalding, Paulding, Oconee, Newton, Cherokee and several other counties.

A flood watch for dozens of counties is in effect, including Bartow, Cherokee, Forsyth, Hall, Paulding, Cobb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Barrow, Clarke, Oconee, Douglas, DeKalb, Rockdale, Fayette and Clayton.

Bryan

Bulloch

Candler

Chatham

Effingham

Evans

Liberty

Long

McIntosh

Tattnall

Tropical Storm Isaac

In the north Atlantic Ocean, Tropical Storm Isaac is churning.

The NHC said Isaac, currently traveling eastward, could strengthen in the forthcoming days. By the weekend, Isaac is expected to shift toward the east-northeast and pick up speed.

Isaac is predicted to become a hurricane by late Friday or early Saturday, the NHC said. The storm was sitting about 670 miles south of Atlanta and had maximum sustained winds near 50 mph.

Tropical storm-force winds stretched out up to 70 miles.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.