Local & State Headlines

Six area counties declared disaster areas

• Hurricane Gustav is churning through the Western Carribean.

J.D. Sumner

ATLANTA — Governor Sonny Perdue declared six Southwest Georgia counties as state disaster areas following flooding and wind damage from Tropical Storm Fay, authorities said.

Baker, Grady, Miller, Thomas, Decatur and Seminole counties along with Southeastern Charlton County as disaster areas Thursday.

“While we are very fortunate to not have witnessed the full extent of Tropical Storm Fay, there has been considerable damage to roads, homes and farmland,” Perdue said in a press release. “Our goal is to assist these counties with state equipment and personnel in order to handle extensive repairs.”

The Georgia Emergency Management Agency is heading up recovery efforts and has representatives in the counties assessing damage and providing assistance, the Governor’s office said Thursday.

In addition, the GEMA has activated the Georgia Emergency Operations Plan, which gives them access to state resources for use in the damaged counties.

Fay flooded much of Florida on a zig-zag course before dumping double-digit rain figures throughout Southwest Georgia, killing one and flooding parts of Decatur, Thomas and Grady Counties.

The declaration comes as Hurricane Gustav churns through the Western Carribean on a path for the Gulf Coast, potentially becoming a rain event for the effected areas.

Dougherty EMA Director James Carswell said state officials are eyeing Gustav closely, and are concerned that it may make less of a westerly turn as expected and become a significant “event” for the area.

“It’s of some concern,” Carswell said. “Mainly if it intensifies but slows or keeps its same pace. If it ends up coming more East, near Mobile as an example, then we could see a significant event.”

Landfall is expect early next week, he said.