Wednesday, with Hurricane Helene still way down south in the Gulf of Mexico, headed north from near the Yucatan Peninsula but with eastern Georgia already under a tropical storm warning, Bulloch County emergency responders were preparing but also watchfully waiting.
The meeting that county Emergency Management Agency Director Corey Kemp convened in the Emergency Operations Center at 3 p.m. carried less sense of urgency than the one for Tropical Storm Debby seven weeks ago. Debby, which had been a hurricane over the Gulf, quickly degenerated to a tropical storm in wind speed and moved slowly eastward across southern Georgia, dumping more than 10 inches of rain on Bulloch. The deluge broke pond dams, damaged paved and unpaved roads and prompted some boat rescues from homes in flooded neighborhoods.
Helene, although expected to make landfall in the same Big Bend region of Florida, was shown in National Weather Service and National Hurricane center forecasts with a “cone of probability” for the storm’s path oriented south-to-north through the Florida Panhandle and western Georgia, curving slightly westward. The storm was expected to intensify, becoming a “major hurricane,” with wind speeds of 111 mph or greater, and thus qualifying as Category 3, 4 or 5, over the Gulf.
Predictions of the time of landfall ranged from Thursday evening to Friday morning.
Because of the width of the storm, it could carry tropical storm-force winds, 39 mph or higher, through Bulloch and surrounding counties.
Overall, the concern at midday Wednesday was for a probability of higher winds, and possible tornadoes, in this area, but with probably less rain, Kemp acknowledged in a phone call. Then at the 3 p.m. briefing in the EOC, he called on Chief Ben Tapley of the Bulloch County Fire Department to summarize and comment on the then-latest update from the National Weather Service.
“No significant change on the briefings from earlier. It is heading more on a westerly track,” Tapley said. “The confidence is that, again, we’re going to get some rain and some wind. The system is so large that it is going to reach well outside the cone. … Potential impacts on us, again, are going to be the tropical storm force winds, possible tornadoes, … heavy rainfall.”
Rain was predicted to start arriving Thursday morning, with tropical storm force winds by Thursday night, continuing into Friday.
Tornado hazard
“Tornado risk starts as soon as the hurricane hits up into Florida, and up alongside of us, to the west,” Tapley said. “That’s when we’re going to be on the right side of the hurricane, so our tornado risk will start going up and be very high in the evening hours of Thursday.”
At that time, the National Weather Service was predicting as much as three to five inches of rain in the area.
When the NWS posted a localized tropical storm warning advisory for Statesboro, Portal and Denmark at 5:02 p.m. Wednesday, it included a “peak wind forecast” of 20-30 mph with gusts to 55 mph. That advisory included a rainfall forecast of an “additional 1-3 inches, with locally higher amounts.”
But it also stated: “Situation is very favorable for tornadoes” and “Potential for many tornadoes.”
Kemp’s advice for area residents making preparations was to “clean up your yards” removing objects that could become “projectiles,” such as low-hanging limbs, lawn furniture or trampolines.
Of course, his earlier hurricane season advice, could also apply. “Make sure you have emergency kits that include things like important documents and medications, make sure that you charge your devices because you probably will lose power,” he said in July.
About 20 people, mostly Bulloch County personnel, including several from the Public Safety division and also Sheriff Noel Brown, attended the 3 p.m. briefing. One or two Statesboro city employees were there, and the city manager and city fire chief participated by phone. So did county Superintendent of Schools Charles Wilson.
Schools and colleges
Bulloch County Schools, at 8 p.m. Wednesday, sent out a notice that the schools will be open for only a half-day on Thursday, Sept. 26, and will be closed Friday, Sept. 27, and that the Board of Education’s 6:30 p.m. Thursday work session is also cancelled.
“This decision follows guidance from the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, recommending early dismissal and closure for schools south of Macon,” stated the release issued by BCS Public Relations Director Hayley Greene.
“All schools will dismiss two hours earlier on Thursday for both car and bus riders,” the notice continued. “Please plan for this adjusted schedule to ensure a smooth dismissal. There will be no after-school activities on Thursday. Look for updates from your school regarding Friday's extracurricular events.”
After advising parents to remain alert for further updates, the notice concluded, “Schools look forward to welcoming everyone back on Monday. Thank you for your cooperation. Stay safe.”
A little earlier, Georgia Southern University had announced that it will “reduce operations” beginning at 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, because of the hurricane.
The statement released by University Communications Director Jennifer Wise continued: “Only essential personnel should be on campus beginning Thursday, Sept. 26, at 5 p.m. The University will return to normal operations once an ‘all clear’ is issued, expected on Friday, Sept. 27. Information on the University’s operations is posted to the University Alert Center at GeorgiaSouthern.edu/alert.”
Meanwhile, Ogeechee Technical College, which doesn’t have classes on Fridays anyway, issued a notice that “out of an abundance of caution” its campus would close at noon (12 p.m.) Thursday.
Power companies
Excelsior Electric Membership Corporation, the rural power co-op with offices in Metter and Statesboro, issued a media release stating that it “is closely monitoring the storm's development and is fully prepared to respond to potential outages and service disruptions.”
Besides having “all Excelsior EMC crews are on high alert” the company has “additional personnel and contractors ready to assist with storm response,” the release stated. The co-op’s offices are expected to open to the public Friday, but not until 9 a.m., it added.
Excelsior customers can report outages by calling 912-685-2115 or 912-764-2123, or through the EMC’s mobile app. For real-time outage updates, there’s an outage map at https://outage.excelsioremc.com/ .
Excelsior also offered these tips and safety reminders:
1. Prepare for Potential Outages: Have a storm kit ready with essentials like batteries, flashlights, water, and non-perishable food.
2. Stay Away from Downed Power Lines: Always assume downed lines are energized. Report them immediately to (your power company) or local authorities.
3. Generator Safety: If using a generator, ensure it is connected properly to avoid back feeding that can endanger linemen and your household.
Georgia Power had issued a storm preparation notice with some similar advice Tuesday.
The company’s customers can visit its Outage & Storm Center at www.GeorgiaPower.com/Storm to check that their contact information is updated to receive Outage Alerts, report and check the status of outages and access safety tips. Customers can also report and check the status of an outage 24 hours a day by contacting Georgia Power at 888-891-0938.
County updates
Kemp and the county staff post advisories on the “Bulloch County Public Safety and EMA” Facebook page and send out alerts via CodeRED, an emergency alert system to which Bulloch County and the city of Statesboro subscribe. A shortened link to the signup page is https://bit.ly/2zkAdOl