Hurricane Michael expected in Decatur County around 2 a.m.
Published 5:24 pm Tuesday, October 9, 2018
- Hurricane Michael churns through the Gulf of Mexico around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, heading toward the Florida Panhandle and eventually Southwest Georgia.
Hurricane Michael is expected to reach Decatur County around 2 a.m. Wednesday and last roughly 24 hours in our region.
Residents should expect extreme winds, five to seven inches of rain, potential flash flooding and widespread power outages from downed power lines.
Hurricane force winds over 70 MPH with gusts ranging from 85-110 MPH are expected to impact our area Wednesday afternoon through around 11 p.m. Tropical storm force winds are expected to last through 5 a.m. Thursday.
It is highly advised to stay indoors with the high winds start. Flying debris is likely, and can cause injury and property damage.
The City of Bainbridge and Decatur County Emergency Management Agency are urging residents in mobile homes to seek shelter immediately if they haven’t already done so. Emergency crews are unable to respond when winds reach speeds of 40 miles per hour or greater.
Because Decatur County lies in the path of the storm, there will be no shelters allowed to open in our area. However, Red Cross shelters are open in the following locations:
Macon, Ga: South Bibb Recreation Center
7935 Houston Road, Macon, GA 31216
Columbus, GA: Shirley B Winston Center
5025 Steam Mill Road, Columbus, GA 31904
If you have transportation issues, contact Decatur County EMA at 229-248-3869.
Decatur County Emergency Management is advising residents to prepare for extended hours without electricity, possibly several days.
