The Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) is monitoring Hurricane Helene as it is expected to bring damaging winds, heavy rainfall and flooding statewide.
All Georgia DOT district teams have equipment loaded and crews are on alert, including immediate-response strike teams ready to respond to the hurricane as it approaches and makes landfall overnight on Thursday, September 26 into the morning hours of Friday, September 27.
“We’ve done this before. Let’s hope it’s not that bad,” Southwest District Maintenance Manager Cliff Webb said Wednesday in a briefing with other managers. GDOT’s Southwest district of 31 counties borders Florida. Employees will shelter in place and will respond to reports of debris and flooding on state roads as soon as it is safe to do so. District signal technicians plan to head to the southwestern counties Friday morning, as those are currently the areas that are expected to feel the brunt of the storm.
Governor Brian P. Kemp has issued a state of emergency in Georgia in anticipation of the storm and its projected impacts effective until October 2. This storm system also has the potential to produce severe impacts to citizens throughout the entire state, which includes potential for prolonged power outages, downed trees as well as possible tornado activity the remainder of this week.
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.
As the storm moves into the state with its significant impacts, motorists can expect detours and road closures due to debris, downed trees and power lines and potential roadway flooding as the department responds to the weather event.
The traveling public’s safety is a top priority as department readies for this major weather event and advises motorists to avoid non-essential travel, particularly following the storm when roads may still be impacted by debris and could be impassable. If you must travel and encounter a Georgia DOT vehicle or crew out on the roadways, please give them the space to accomplish their critically important tasks safely.
Motorists are reminded to remain cognizant of standing or rushing water and to respond appropriately to road conditions that could change quickly. Please remember that when heavy rainfall occurs in a very short amount of time, water on roadways – even with storm drains that function well under normal rainfall – can rise temporarily similarly to creeks and rivers. Motorists should take caution and be prepared to turn around when encountering water in the roadway. Vehicles can get swept away by as little as twelve inches of moving water.
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