Atlanta Closes Offices, Suspends Streetcar Service Ahead Of Hurricane Irma

ATLANTA, GA -- The city of Atlanta's government offices and Municipal Court will be closed for business on Monday, Sept. 11 as Hurricane Irma is expected to dump inches of rain and pound the Peach State with high winds over the next 48 hours.

The city has also suspended streetcar service until Tuesday, Sept. 12. All essential and emergency personnel should report to work at their regularly-scheduled time while all non-essential employees should remain at home.

MARTA has also announced it will suspend bus, rail and mobility services for Sept. 11, and Atlanta's Department of Public Works has also halted trash collections for Sept. 11 and Sept. 12. Monday’s collections will occur on Wednesday, Tuesday’s collections will occur on Thursday, Wednesday’s collections will occur on Friday, Thursday’s collections will occur on Saturday and Friday’s collections will occur on Sunday.

Customers are asked to keep trash bins secured inside and do not place cans outside until your newly-scheduled pick-up date, as high winds will knock over the cans and spill contents onto the roadway and your neighbor's property (Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app).

Additionally, the Department of Watershed Management has been working around the clock to maintain a continuity of operations in response to high winds that could impact power at our water treatment plants. A coordination of efforts has been underway between the agency and the Department of Public Works to ensure that stream beds have been cleared of debris as well as identifying hot spot locations that are often impacted by high water.

The DWM team has conducted two sweeps to clear debris from storm drains at 152 locations throughout the city, and "we are continuously monitoring the level of streams with stream gauges that provide real-time monitoring as well as water levels in manholes," the city said.

"As we continue to assess the tropical storm impacts to the city, the DWM team will actively respond to service requests regarding surface flooding and dispatch resources to assess and solve any issues that arise," it added.

As Irma steamrolls towards Georgia, the city and the metro Atlanta area remain under a tropical storm warning. The main threats facing the area are heavy rain, strong winds, possible flooding and power outages. Residents are encouraged to plan accordingly by following these important tips:

• Develop a family disaster plan.
• For real time emergency weather notifications, sign up for NotifyATL at www.atlantaga.gov/notifyatl.
• Assemble a disaster supplies kit.
• Protect your property prior to the storm: trim trees and shrubbery, make trees more wind resistant by removing diseased and damaged limbs, clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts. If you live in a flood plain or are prone to flooding, follow flood preparedness precautions.
• Secure planters and outdoor furniture.
• If told to evacuate, tell someone outside of the storm area where you are going. After a storm, make a list of any property damage and document with photos and video for insurance claims.
• Charge your phone and other electronic devices in case you lose power.
• Try to stay off the roads during the storm.
• If you must drive, do not drive through floodwaters as they can be extremely hazardous. Turn around – don’t drown.

Residents are encouraged to get up-to-date information by visiting the city's website or checking its Twitter account. For information on open shelters in the State of Georgia, visit the Georgia Emergency Management Agency website at gema.ga.gov. For the latest information on MARTA schedules, visit www.itsmarta.com.

To report downed trees or submit a request for non-emergency services, please visit ATL311.com. For all emergencies, please call 911.

Image via city of Atlanta