The area was bracing Monday for heavy rain and evacuees associated with Tropical Storm Idalia moving through the Augusta area.
The storm is expected to make landfall as a Category 3 hurricane along the Florida Big Bend near Tallahassee on Wednesday morning. Gov. Brian Kemp activated the Georgia Emergency Management Agency State Operations Center to coordinate storm response statewide.
“Georgia will be prepared for whatever Idalia will bring,” Kemp said. “Rest assured. Though the storm will likely weaken before crossing our border, we’re not taking anything for granted.”
The storm is expected to weaken to a Category 1 hurricane as its center moves into southeast Georgia mid-morning Wednesday, with tropical storm-force winds of 40 miles per hour and hurricane-force winds possible along the Georgia coast through Wednesday afternoon.
The National Weather Service in Columbia had a hazardous weather outlook for the Augusta area, including Aiken, Columbia, Burke and Richmond counties.
The outlook called for scattered thunderstorms starting tonight with heavy rain Tuesday through Thursday. The greatest potential for flooding is Wednesday into Thursday.
Augusta has mutual evacuation agreements in place with Savannah, and the coastal city has bused evacuees here during prior hurricanes. The area’s typical abundance of hotel rooms also makes the city a destination evacuees fleeing worsening conditions.
