• Path shifts eastward as it makes landfall, local area remains under Tropical Storm Warning
• Expect power outages, trees going down, potential flooding
• Winds set to arrive during overnight hours

STAY OFF ROADWAYS AS STORM APPROACHES

DO NOT CALL 911 UNLESS LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION

The path of Hurricane Helene has shifted slightly eastward toward Metro Atlanta for the eye of the tropical storm (predicted) to pass over and miss Polk, but only by a bit.

Hurricane Helene is set to make landfall tonight in the Big Bend of the Florida Panhandle as a Category 4 storm – meaning sustained winds are above 130 mph – and is expected to move inland and remain a hurricane as it hits South Georgia.

It’ll move northward toward North Georgia and East Tennessee before it dissipates into a Tropical Depression over the Ohio River valley on Friday morning and afternoon and into the weekend.

Follow Paulding County EMA’s Facebook Page to keep up with alerts during the storm.

Expect tropical storm force winds and higher and heavy rainfall – and the potential for severe thunderstorms – as Helene passes by the area. This means that the likelihood of trees falling down due to the saturated soil following a round of moderate drought is high, causing power outages that may last longer than normal (meaning hours or days.)

It also means power outages are also likely. A few have already been reported in the area, but the impact has been minor (less than five customers) so far.

Hurricane Helene formed in the Western Caribbean as a tropical cycle this past weekend, and began moving into the gulf as a tropical storm on early Tuesday. It has already caused impacts on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico and the western shores of Cuba as it moved toward Florida, where storm surges, wind and rain have already been been battering beaches and cities alike along the Gulf Coast.

Take precautions

Due to the heavy rains and winds, trees are likely to fall and cause power outages. Be prepared for widespread and extended outages across the area overnight and into Friday. Officials are expecting power outages to take longer than normal to repair due to the likelihood of widespread damage across the region and in Metro Atlanta.

PLEASE REMAIN INDOORS DURING STORMY WEATHER. Now is not the time to play the role of Jim Cantore, and the potential for being injured by flying debris in high winds is possible. Stay dry and safe inside.

HAS THE POWER GONE OUT? Find out more about outages here.

DO NOT DRIVE DURING THE STORM. Unless it is an absolute life-threatening emergency, driving during severe weather is always a risk that could endanger yourself, others on the roadway and first responders who are responsible for helping those who get hurt during incidents.