“HELENE TO BRING UNPRECEDENTED WIND AND FLOODING IMPACTS TO NORTH AND
CENTRAL GEORGIA THROUGH FRIDAY”

The National Weather Service issued the following update at 5:24 a.m. on Thursday September 26 upgrading some counties from Tropical Storm Warnings to Hurricane Warnings

Hurricane Helene Local Statement Advisory Number 12
GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086-089>098-102>113-261730-

Hurricane Helene Local Statement Advisory Number 12
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA  AL092024
524 AM EDT Thu Sep 26 2024

This product covers North and Central Georgia

**HELENE TO BRING UNPRECEDENTED WIND AND FLOODING IMPACTS TO NORTH AND
 CENTRAL GEORGIA THROUGH FRIDAY**


NEW INFORMATION
---------------

* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
    - The Tropical Storm Warning has been upgraded to a Hurricane
      Warning for Lamar, Monroe, and Upson

* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
    - A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Bibb, Bleckley,
      Chattahoochee, Crawford, Crisp, Dodge, Dooly, Houston, Lamar,
      Macon, Marion, Monroe, Muscogee, Peach, Pulaski, Schley,
      Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, Telfair, Twiggs, Upson,
      Webster, and Wilcox
    - A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Baldwin, Banks,
      Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee,
      Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dade, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas,
      Emanuel, Fannin, Fayette, Floyd, Forsyth, Gilmer, Glascock,
      Gordon, Greene, Gwinnett, Hall, Hancock, Haralson, Harris,
      Heard, Henry, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Jones,
      Laurens, Lumpkin, Madison, Meriwether, Montgomery, Morgan,
      Murray, Newton, North Fulton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Paulding,
      Pickens, Pike, Polk, Putnam, Rockdale, South Fulton, Spalding,
      Taliaferro, Toombs, Towns, Treutlen, Troup, Union, Walker,
      Walton, Warren, Washington, Wheeler, White, Whitfield, Wilkes,
      and Wilkinson

* STORM INFORMATION:
    - About 670 miles south of Atlanta GA or about 610 miles
      south-southwest of Macon GA
    - 24.2N 86.2W
    - Storm Intensity 90 mph
    - Movement North-northeast or 15 degrees at 12 mph

SITUATION OVERVIEW
------------------

Hurricane Helene, currently southwest of the Florida Peninsula, will
accelerate northward over the eastern Gulf of Mexico today. Helene is
forecast to become a major hurricane before making landfall along the
Big Bend of Florida on this evening. Due to the intensity and fast
forward motion, unprecendented wind and flooding impacts, rivaling or
exceeding those of Hurricanes Opal (1995), Irma (2017) and Michael
(2018), are expected across the north and central Georgia.

Several areas have already received 2 to 4 inches of rain in the last
24 hours. Additional rainfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches, with localized
amounts over 10 inches, are expected. The highest amounts will occur
over a wide swath paralleling I-85 into northeast and east central
Georgia. Widespread flooding is expected with significant flash
flooding and moderate to major river flooding possible.

Tropical storm and hurricane force wind gusts, potentially exceeding
80 mph, are expected to begin across the southern portion of the
forecast area on this evening, then quickly spread north overnight
into Friday morning. Given the saturated soils, widespread downing of
trees and significant power outages are expected. Prepare for an
extended period of power loss!

Short-lived tornadoes will also be possible across east-central
Georgia today through early Friday morning, with the greatest
potential over areas north and east of the track of Helene.

Helene will be an expansive system with impacts occurring well away
from the storm center.

All preparations should be rushed to completion before impacts begin.
The time to act is now!


POTENTIAL IMPACTS
-----------------

* FLOODING RAIN:
Protect against life-threatening rainfall flooding having possible
devastating impacts across northeast Georgia. Potential impacts
include:
    - Extreme rainfall flooding may prompt numerous evacuations and
      rescues.
    - Rivers and tributaries may overwhelmingly overflow their banks
      in many places with deep moving water. Small streams, creeks,
      canals, arroyos, and ditches may become raging rivers. In
      mountain areas, deadly runoff may rage down valleys while
      increasing susceptibility to rockslides and mudslides. Flood
      control systems and barriers may become stressed.
    - Flood waters can enter numerous structures within multiple
      communities, some structures becoming uninhabitable or washed
      away. Numerous places where flood waters may cover escape
      routes. Streets and parking lots become rivers of raging water
      with underpasses submerged. Driving conditions become very
      dangerous. Numerous road and bridge closures with some weakened
      or washed out.

Protect against life-threatening rainfall flooding having possible
significant to extensive impacts across north and central Georgia.

* WIND:
Protect against life-threatening wind having possible extensive
impacts across central Georgia. Potential impacts in this area
include:
    - Considerable roof damage to sturdy buildings, with some having
      window, door, and garage door failures leading to structural
      damage. Mobile homes severely damaged, with some destroyed.
      Damage accentuated by airborne projectiles. Locations may be
      uninhabitable for weeks.
    - Many large trees snapped or uprooted along with fences and
      roadway signs blown over.
    - Some roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban
      or heavily wooded places. Several bridges, causeways, and
      access routes impassable.
    - Large areas with power and communications outages.

Also, protect against dangerous wind having possible limited to
significant impacts across the remainder of central and north Georgia.

* TORNADOES:
Protect against a dangerous tornado event having possible significant
impacts across east central Georgia. Potential impacts include:
    - The occurrence of scattered tornadoes can hinder the execution
      of emergency plans during tropical events.
    - Several places may experience tornado damage with a few spots
      of considerable damage, power loss, and communications failures.
    - Locations could realize roofs torn off frame houses, mobile
      homes demolished, boxcars overturned, large trees snapped or
      uprooted, vehicles tumbled, and small boats tossed about.
      Dangerous projectiles can add to the toll.

Protect against a tornado event having possible limited impacts
across the remaineder of north and central Georgia.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
----------------------------------

* EVACUATIONS:

Follow the advice of local officials.


* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:

Now is the time to complete all preparations to protect life and
property in accordance with your emergency plan. Ensure you are in a
safe location before the onset of strong winds or possible flooding.

If a Tornado Warning is issued for your area, be ready to shelter
quickly, preferably away from windows and in an interior room not prone
to flooding. If driving, scan the roadside for quick shelter options.

Keep cell phones well charged. Cell phone chargers for automobiles
can be helpful, but be aware of your risk for deadly carbon monoxide
poisoning if your car is left idling in a garage or other poorly
ventilated area.

Closely monitor weather.gov, NOAA Weather radio or local news outlets
for official storm information. Be ready to adapt to possible changes
to the forecast. Ensure you have multiple ways to receive weather
warnings.

* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
- For information on creating an emergency plan see ready.ga.gov
- For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov
- For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org