Irma on path to bring possible hurricane-force winds to Southwest Georgia

ALBANY — Albany and Dougherty County officials said Saturday afternoon that preparations are underway for what is expected to be a strong, direct hit from Hurricane Irma in Southwest Georgia.

The threat level was elevated from hurricane watch to hurricane warning for Albany Saturday evening.

Dougherty County Commission Chair Chris Cohilas said officials received word from the National Weather Service that Irma has shifted west and is expected to go through the Gulf of Mexico and maintain enough strength to hit Southwest Georgia with hurricane-force winds.

He added that those in mobile homes, trailers and RVs are strongly being encouraged to seek shelter in a secure structure by 3 p.m. Sunday. By Sunday afternoon, 35 mph winds are expected, and the storm will likely crescendo through Monday.

Cohilas said officials are seeking a presidential declaration, and that support is already incoming from agencies including GEMA/HS in anticipation of Irma’s wrath. Dougherty was placed on hurricane watch on Saturday morning.

“It’s not looking too good,” Jeanie McDermott, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service Office in Tallahassee that covers Southwest Georgia, said late Saturday. “The track keeps shifting further and further to the west.”

The best-case scenario for Albany, she said, is tropical storm force winds. “If it comes up and moves straight through the Gulf, it could be worse,” she said, with hurricane force sustained winds exceeding 75 mph.

Late Saturday, it appeared that the center of the mammoth 400-mile cyclone likely would pass between Tallahassee and Valdosta. The official NWS forecast, which was subject to change as Irma’s direction became more certain, called for sustained winds around 60 mph in Albany with gusts of 80 mph. The winds are expected to increase Sunday as the day goes on and hit 50 mph by Monday morning.

“The worst part will probably move through late morning and to early afternoon (Monday), sometime in there,” she said. “But it also depends on what track it takes. That’s if it comes up through Valdosta and Tallahassee.”

Rain totals are expected to top 5 inches and greater accumulations could fall in isolated spots. While Irma is a fairly fast-moving system, McDermott said, “We do have a flash flood watch for Albany and all the Southwest Georgia counties, as well as the Big Bend (in Florida).”

McDemott said Albany and Southwest Georgia residents can expect prolonged power outages, numerous trees down and damage homes, especially roofs. “With the trees down, some roads could very well be impassable both during the storm and after the storm,” she said.

An American Red Cross shelter opened at the Albany Civic Center Saturday evening. Good Samaritan shelters will be opening at East Albany Church of God at 216 Pine Bluff Road, and Albany Family Worship Center at 3024 Kensington Ct.

Lee County officials announced late Saturday that two Good Samaritan shelters will be opening in the county. First Baptist Church of Leesburg, 135 Main St., will have a shelter with up to 30 cots for Lee County residents who live in mobile homes and who are seeking refuge. That shelter will open at 7 p.m. Sunday.

First Baptist Church of Albany, 145 Oakland Parkway in Lee County, will open its Good Samaritan shelter at 7 p.m. Sunday also.

Two distribution hubs are being utilized at Sherwood Baptist Church’s Coke Plant at 925 Pine Ave., and Friendship Baptist Church at 400 Pine Ave.

“This going to start (Sunday) afternoon and it is going to continue to build,” Cohilas said Saturday. “It will crescendo on Monday at 4 p.m.

“It is literally on a direct path to Southwest Georgia.”

Once the sustained winds reach 40 mph, officials said public safety vehicles will be pulled off the road until the winds calm.

“This has the ability to be very life-threatening,” Cohilas said.

Dougherty County Sheriff Kevin Sproul said reports of price gouging are being investigated, with a focus on gas pumps. He said there are 40 stations deputies have visited, and establishments found to be engaging in gouging will be reported to Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr and prosecuted.

In the meantime, officials are encouraging people to secure items — including patio furniture — that could potentially be used as projectiles during periods of heavy wind, and solid waste pickups are underway.

“We want to make sure everyone is safe,” said Albany Mayor Dorothy Hubbard.

Officials at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital announced late Saturday afternoon that Irma would be impacting the hospital’s operations on Monday.

“Just as we did during the twin storms that hit our community in January, Phoebe stands ready to meet the healthcare needs of Southwest Georgia during and after Hurricane Irma,” the statement from hospital officials said. “Because of the dangerous conditions forecast on Monday, Sept. 11, people do not to be on the roads unless it is absolutely necessary. For that reason, Phoebe is cancelling all outpatient and elective procedures for Monday.

“We are developing a staffing plan to make sure we are prepared to meet the inpatient and emergency needs of our community. We are continuously monitoring developments with Hurricane Irma. We urge all of you to do the same and to stay safe during this crisis.”

McDermott said residents in the area should take steps immediately to protect themselves.

“Everybody should be finishing their preparation tonight (Saturday) or early tomorrow (Sunday),” she said. “Plans should be in place. The confidence is increasing that we’re going to see a major impact in Southwest Georgia.”

Many local residents — though not all — were in preparation mode Saturday. Tina Williams came out of the Walmart Neighborhood Market on Gillionville Road on Saturday with bottled water, canned goods and paper products. She was on her way to get gas.

“I don’t want to not be prepared,” she said.

Another woman at the Walmart, who preferred to only be referred to as Nancy, was stocking up for a football party. Given that the Albany area made it through the January storms, she was relatively calm about the incoming threat.

“After what we just went through, it doesn’t really surprise me,” she said. “I can’t imagine going through anything worse.”

Donterrious Daniels was at Lowe’s at North Westover Boulevard on Saturday gathering supplies for a home repair project. He did not seem concerned about the storm.

“I am thinking we won’t get much by the time it gets here,” he said. “It is not in my Top 10.”

Mike Shivok and Nasha Roach, on the other hand, were more concerned. Roach had to go to several places to find a store with bottled water before finding a supply at Lowe’s, and they purchased one of the last generators available at Power Sports Plus.

“We are just hoping for the best and preparing for the worst,” Shivok said.

Roach said she is praying it is not as bad as forecasters are saying, partly because she comes from a family of farmers who rely on crops for their livelihood.

“Everything is ready, and one hurricane can wipe it out,” she said.

Shivok said he has a chainsaw, a tool that proved to be useful after the January storms, ready to help others impacted by the storm once it passes.

“We have never had the possibility of hurricane-force winds in our area,” he said. “We have seen a lot of tropical storms. We are just getting prepared.

“We want people to come together as a community.”

Officials are also urging people to collect their emergency kits, important documentation and needed medication. Another news conference is planned for 10 a.m. Sunday to give an update on Irma.

The Emergency Operations Center is up and running in Dougherty County. To contact the EOC, call (229) 483-6226 or (229) 483-6227.

Jim Hendricks contributed to this report.