Hurricane Ian: Kemp Declares State of Emergency

ATLANTA, GA — A state of emergency has been declared for all of Georgia's 159 counties ahead of Hurricane Ian's arrival.

Gov. Brian Kemp issued the executive order Tuesday in preparation for the storm. The order goes into effect 7 a.m. Thursday and will expire at 11:59 p.m., Oct. 28.

According to the order, Ian could produce heavy rainfall, damaging winds, storm surge and flooding in Georgia.

James C. Stallings, director of the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, said during a news conference Tuesday that downed trees and power outages are anticipated with the storm.

Aside from trees and power lines, another factor possibly affecting roads is debris, according to the order.

Stallings said the state of emergency will allow officials to utilize state resources at a local level.

Gov. Brian Kemp activated the State Operations Center Monday in preparation for Ian.

Stallings said the center is at a Level 2 activation but will be elevated to a Level 3 activation at 7 a.m. Wednesday as officials move toward 24-hour monitoring of the storm.

Ian is expected to reach coastal Georgia overnight Friday as a tropical storm, according to the National Hurricane Center's Tuesday afternoon forecast.

The National Weather Service reported around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday that Ian was expected to hit southeast South Carolina and southeast Georgia mid to late week.

Around 8 a.m. Saturday, winds of 39-73 mph are predicted to impact parts of Georgia near the Georgia-South Carolina border, according to the hurricane center.

Stallings encouraged residents in high-flood risk areas to seek shelter on higher ground, noting people should be prepared to "sustain themselves" for up to 72 hours.

A storm surge watch was issued Tuesday for the coast and a tropical storm warning is in place for Camden and Glynn counties, according to GEMA/HS.

According to the NWS, the counties under a storm surge watch are Beaufort, Charleston, Coastal Bryan, coastal Chatham, coastal Colleton, coastal Jasper, coastal Liberty and coastal McIntosh.

A tropical storm watch was issued for the remainder of the coast, according to emergency management officials.

The counties under a tropical storm watch are Effingham, inland Berkeley, inland Bryan, inland Chatham, inland Jasper, inland Liberty, inland McIntosh, long and tidal Berkeley, according to the NWS.

EMA officials said tropical storm conditions are possible Wednesday through Saturday for coastal Georgia, noting there could be moderate to major coastal flooding, dangerous rip currents, high surf and beach erosion.

EMA officials said there could also be 3 to 5 feet of storm surge above ground level along the coast with 6 to 8 inches of rainfall in southeast Georgia.

A State of Emergency for Supply Chain Disruptions is currently in effect in Georgia until Oct. 12. Chattooga and Floyd counties were already under a State of Emergency for Severe Flooding, set to expire 11:59 p.m., Oct. 4.

As of 1 p.m. Tuesday, Ian was located about 280 miles from Sarasota, Florida, and about 100 miles from the Dry Tortugas in Monroe County, Florida.

The hurricane had maximum sustained winds of 115 mph and was moving north at 10 mph.

The National Hurricane Center predicted Ian to land Wednesday in Venice, Florida, as a Category 3 storm. The hurricane is expected to hit south of Tampa Bay, causing significant impacts in the area.

Evacuations were taking place in Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota counties in Florida.