Idalia’s worst impacts now in Georgia
From CNN’s Angela Fritz
Hurricane Idalia’s worst impacts have shifted into Georgia, where the strongest winds are combining with the heaviest rain and threat of flooding.
Idalia will continue to lash Georgia until Wednesday evening, when its center will cross into South Carolina.
Idalia’s outer rainbands have already begun to affect southern South Carolina. Conditions there will continue to worsen from south to north through Wednesday.
Flood watches extend from Florida to North Carolina.
Flash flood emergency issued for Valdosta, Georgia
From CNN meteorologist Allison Chinchar
A flash flood emergency has been issued for Brooks and Lowndes counties, including Valdosta, until 12:45 p.m. ET.
Between 3 to 6 inches of rain have fallen already from Hurricane Idalia, and additional amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible this afternoon and evening. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.
Flash Flood Warning including Valdosta GA, Remerton GA and Dasher GA until 12:45 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/eK42bsbL87
— NWS Tallahassee (@NWSTallahassee) August 30, 2023
“The threat is real,” Savannah officials warn as storm approaches
From CNN’s Devon M. Sayers
Savannah officials caution the worst is to come for the coastal city as Hurricane Idalia crosses into Georgia.
“We are extremely concerned about what this may mean for us,” Savannah Mayor Van R. Johnson said during a Wednesday news conference.
“We are in a significant storm event right now. We are feeling the wind. We are feeling the water, and it is going to get worse throughout the day. We have to take this seriously,” Johnson said.
“The threat is real,” Chatham Emergency Management Agency’s Dennis Jones said, adding that weather will start “to get really, really bad” around 2 p.m. ET this afternoon and continue into the evening.
The city’s fire department has predeployed equipment to areas that may be cut off due to bridge closures, City Manager Joseph Melder said.
Johnson said that he has been in touch with the White House, along with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Georgia’s two US senators.
“We are thinking and praying for our friends in Florida,” Johnson added.
Savannah has a population of just over 148,000, according to the US Census.
Stay tuned to our website Usacharged.com for more updates.
