Augusta, GA
Georgia, South Carolina take emergency steps ahead of Tropical Storm Debby
AUGUSTA, Ga. – Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster have both declared a state of emergency ahead of the arrival of Tropical Storm Debby.
Tropical Depression 4 became Tropical Storm Debby on Saturday night. It’s expected to make landfall along Florida’s Gulf Coast and cross over to southeast Georgia and the Atlantic coast. It’s the fourth named storm of the 2024 season.
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“As the state prepares for a major storm system early this coming week, we urge all Georgians to take precautions to keep their families and property safe,” Kemp said.
McMaster’s order enables state agencies to coordinate and prepare.
“Team South Carolina is closely monitoring Tropical Storm Debby and has begun preparing for its potential impact on our state,” McMaster said. “With a potentially significant rainfall event forecast for the next few days, it is critical that residents in potentially affected areas start making preparations and plans today—in case it is necessary to take quick action.”
McMaster also signed an executive order to send South Carolina National Guard troops to Florida following the state’s request for aid. About 70 soldiers assigned to the 1050th Transportation Battalion, 59th Troop Command were sent to assist.
Among the other preparations in both states:
- The Georgia Department of Transportation has equipment loaded and crews on alert, including immediate-response strike teams ready to respond to potentially historic rainfall. For the safety of the department’s employees, Georgia DOT crews monitor weather conditions at all times and will stop cleanup and debris removal from interstates and state routes when sustained winds reach 40 mph. Work will resume once sustained wind speeds die down. Priority will be placed on interstates, then state routes, with highest priority given to routes to hospitals and other essential public services.
- The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services used its emergency notification system to alert owners of all regulated dams and reservoirs in the state to advise proactive steps to prepare for potential heavy rainfall. This may include clearing debris from spillways and assessing the water level to determine if lowering the level is needed to accommodate incoming storm flows. The agency’s staff is performing pre-storm assessments at high-hazard dams expected to be heavily impacted by rainfall based on current weather modeling.
- South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the state’s law against price gouging is now in effect. The law is a general prohibition of unconscionable prices during times of disaster. It is in effect until the state of emergency expires or is terminated. Price gougers can be charged with excessive pricing, a misdemeanor offense punishable by a $1,000 fine and/or 30 days in jail. Normal fluctuations in price are to be expected and are not necessarily price gouging, but if you feel like you are the victim of price gouging, report it by visiting https://www.scag.gov/price-gouging or calling 803-737-3953 to leave a message.
Predictions show the system could come ashore Monday and cross over northern Florida into the Atlantic Ocean, where it’s likely to remain a tropical storm threatening Georgia and the Carolinas.
Tropical storm warnings were posted for most of Florida’s West Coast and the Dry Tortugas, and a hurricane watch was issued for parts of the Big Bend and Florida Panhandle.
A warning means storm conditions are expected within 36 hours, while a watch means they are possible within 48 hours.
Tropical storms and hurricanes can trigger river flooding and overwhelm drainage systems and canals. Forecasters warned of 5 to 10 inches (125 mm to 250 mm) of rain, which could create “locally considerable” flash and urban flooding. Forecasters also warned of moderate flooding for some rivers along Florida’s West Coast.
Some of the heaviest rains could actually come in a region along the Atlantic Coast from Jacksonville, Florida, to the north through coastal regions of Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. The storm is expected to slow down after making landfall.
“We could see a stall or a meandering motion around coastal portions of the southeastern United States,” National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan said in a Saturday briefing. “So that’s going to exacerbate not just the rainfall risk, but also the potential for storm surge and some strong winds.”
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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Ahead of possible impacts from Debby, some CSRA school districts are announcing closures.
Tropical Depression 4 became Tropical Storm Debby on Saturday night. It’s expected to make landfall Monday morning as a Category 1 hurricane, then move northeast into southeastern Georgia and southern South Carolina. This will bring the potential for lots of rain across the CSRA, but especially in southern and eastern counties.
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School closures
- Jenkins County students in Millen will go to school on Monday, Aug. 5, but the school system will close on Tuesday, Aug. 6, and students will not report back until Thursday, Aug. 8. The school will be preparing a bag of meals for each student to take home Monday with breakfast and lunch for three days.
What’s ahead
Tropical Storm Debby strengthened rapidly Sunday and was expected to become a hurricane as it churned through the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida, bringing with it the threat of devastating floods to the southeast Atlantic coast later in the week.
The storm was likely to become a Category 1 hurricane before making landfall Monday in the Big Bend region of Florida, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said.
From there, the storm is expected to move eastward over northern Florida and then stall over the coastal regions of Georgia and South Carolina, thrashing the region with the potential of record-setting rains totaling up to 30 inches beginning Tuesday.
“There’s some really amazing rainfall totals being forecast and amazing in a bad way,” Michael Brennan, director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami, said at a briefing Sunday. “That would be record-breaking rainfall associated with a tropical cyclone for both the states of Georgia and South Carolina if we got up to the 30 inch level.”
The flooding impacts, which could last through Friday, are expected to be especially severe in low-lying areas near the coast, including Savannah, Georgia; Hilton Head, South Carolina; and Charleston, South Carolina.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A man was seen leaving the scene in a stretcher after a multi-car crash on Riverwatch Parkway just before noon on Thursday.
Dispatch says three or four vehicles crashed at Riverwatch Parkway and Alexander Drive around 11:42 a.m.
Fire crews, EMS and deputies all responded to the scene.
No roads have been blocked, dispatch says.
Officials say a tow-truck was on the way to the scene at 11:55 a.m.
Traffic was moving slowly around 12:35 p.m. while crews worked to clear the scene.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta Dream Center Back to School Bash
The back to bash was truly a selfless act but on by Augusta Dream Center that warmed so hearts today.
Before the door even opened there were 400 people already waiting, and the number of people attending just grew and grew.
With first day of classes is just days away.
Parents say they still have a few things to cross off the “to return to school” list.
“Clothes, shoes, back to school, supplies, you know, book bags, and even just a Bible, said” Danielle Ward.
Those at the Augusta Dream’ Center say their annual back to school bash is a way to take away the financial stress that comes with the first day.
“The vision is really to empower kids in our city. So now I feel like it’s even more important than ever, just because of the economic comment here with inflation and everything, everything is expensive,” said Kelly Newman Director of Augusta Dream Center.
Coming from a family with 6 children, Ava Grace Green, says she’s seen the struggle firsthand.
“Really helpful, because we have a super big family, like I have six siblings, so it’s super helpful to come and get some help with some of this stuff, especially going back to school, because it’s super successful,” said Ava Grace Green.
The rising 9th grader says the bash is more than a blessing.
“Think it’s a big blessing to be able to come here and just feel supported like by your community, like you do when you’re here, said Green.”
And to feel loved and supported by the community was the goal.
“So our hope is that we can just be kind and just resource our community and help kids start the school year off strong,” said Newman.
“Not only help us, but even, you know, help many families as well. Because, you know, you don’t know where your blessings come from,” said Ward.
There is another Back to School Bash on Sunday with kids at Olmstead Homes from 2 to 4.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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