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Georgia EMC

As Hurricane Debby makes landfall as a Category 1 storm on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Georgia’s Electric Membership Corporations (EMCs) stand ready for its impact.

Hurricane Debby is predicted to enter Georgia at 2 p.m. on Monday in the southern central part of the state moving northeast as she heads to the southeast coast. With sustained winds of from 39-73mph and heavy rains, power outages are imminent.

“Our forecasters predicted an above average hurricane season, and our EMCs have been preparing in advance for several weeks,” said Harry Reeves, vice president of training and safety at Georgia EMC. “We’ve used our time wisely since we began monitoring Hurricane Debby last week, and EMCs in the storm’s path have enacted their proven storm response plans, taking the necessary steps to prepare for the storm.”

EMCs have mobilized all key personnel and additional contract crews, prepared trucks with emergency equipment and increased supplies of materials that could be needed should the effects of the storm become severe. Key staff members have also been in contact with other emergency service providers, including EMAs, police, fire and public works.

At the same time, EMCs have been in regular contact with other electric cooperatives across the state and country to arrange for help and additional support. Several cooperatives from the northern part of the state are headed south to assist with power restoration.

Forecasters predict the storm will slow on Tuesday and stall as it reaches Georgia’s coast by Wednesday. This is expected to create a historic rainfall and flooding event in southeast Georgia, particularly for areas within 50 miles of Savannah, with rainfall totals reaching a predicted 12-20 inches of rain.

Gov. Brian Kemp issued a State of Emergency in all 159 counties. The emergency declaration makes all state resources available to local governments and entities within the impacted area of the hurricane. Officials are warning residents along in the path to be prepared for life-threatening storm surge, hurricane-force winds, and heavy rains which could lead to flash flooding. Reeves says residents should heed the advice of local officials and be assured that all electric cooperatives across the state are prepared and ready to restore service.

EMCs will continue to watch Hurricane Debby closely and remind members to keep abreast of the storm’s development and take every precaution in the event the state experiences its effects. Stay informed by visiting https://gema.georgia.gov/ and https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/.

Outage Information:
A map showing current outages by region, updated every 15 minutes, can be found at http://www.georgiaemc.com/outages. To report power outages and gain more detailed power outages and restoration updates, customers should contact their local EMC.

About Georgia EMC:
Georgia EMC is the statewide trade association representing the state’s 41 electric cooperatives, Oglethorpe Power Corp., Georgia Transmission Corp. and Georgia System Operations Corp.  Collectively, Georgia’s customer-owned co-ops provide electricity and related services to 4.4 million people, nearly half of Georgia’s population, across 73 percent of the state’s land area. To learn more, visit www.georgiaemc.com and follow us on Facebook and X.