Braced for impact! Seminole County prepares for Hurricane Helene’s fury

Seminole County citizens and residents throughout southwest Georgia went to bed Wednesday night not knowing what the next day’s sunrise would bring into the light. The National Weather Service was predicting the wrath of Hurricane Helene and the storm’s path to be heading in Seminole County’s direction.  Seminole County Emergency Management Agency officials have planned for the worst, but they are hoping for the best as Hurricane Helene  approaches with all of its fury. 

As of presstime Wednesday at noon projected landfall was the Apalachicola area Thursday evening as a Category 3, or possibly Category 4 storm.

The National Weather Service (NWS) is forecasting the main impact for the Seminole County area to be possible tornadic activity, downed trees, downed power lines, peak sustained winds of 73 mph, peak wind gusts of 100 mph, and from four to eight inches of rainfall.  

Timing for this event for Seminole County is from 4 a.m. Thursday, September 26 to 2 a.m. Friday, September 27. A county-wide mandatory curfew will begin at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 26 and will continue until 6 a.m. on Friday, September 27.

Out of an abundance of caution and concern for safety the Seminole County School System will be closed on Thursday and Friday, September 26 and 27.

As Hurricane Helene approaches, Seminole County and the City of Donalsonville are taking proactive steps to prepare for the storm. Jeffrey Hatcher, both the EMA Director for Seminole County and City Manager for Donalsonville, along with Deputy Director Travis Brooks, are working diligently to ensure the community’s safety.

With decades of experience managing natural disasters, Hatcher and Brooks are leveraging the recently updated Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) to coordinate efforts among various agencies. “The HMP provides critical guidance on what each local agency is responsible for,” Hatcher explains. “Communication is key during a crisis. It allows us to coordinate quickly and efficiently, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our community.”

Hurricane Helene, while not expected to hit with the same intensity as 2018’s Hurricane Michael, brings its own set of challenges. “Unlike Michael, which brought devastating winds, Helene poses a significant threat of flooding,” Hatcher said. The storm’s tropical-storm-force winds could still cause power outages, fallen trees, and damage, but the greatest concern is rainfall.

“We’re anticipating flash flooding during the storm, followed by potential river flooding next week due to the heavy rainfall expected in middle and northern Georgia,” Hatcher warned. “And because this will be a night storm, we likely won’t be able to assess the damage until Friday morning.”

The Emergency Operations Team, consisting of law enforcement, health, education, fire services, public works, and utilities, has been meeting daily with elected officials to share the latest updates and coordinate efforts. Resources, such as generators for critical buildings, have been secured, and agencies have ensured they have adequate staffing and materials.

One key example of local cooperation is the effort to provide sandbags for residents. “The Donalsonville Fire Department supplied the bags, the Seminole County Road Department provided the sand, and the Sheriff’s Office allocated prisoners to help fill them,” Hatcher said. “That’s the power of communication and coordination — we’re all one community working together.”

In preparation for the storm, Seminole County has declared a Local State of Emergency, empowering the EMA to use all available resources to protect life and property. A curfew has been issued to keep residents off the roads during the worst of the storm. “Our goal is to protect both our emergency responders and our citizens,” Hatcher said. “We understand this is an inconvenience, but it’s vital for everyone’s safety.”

Residents are urged to heed the curfew, avoid downed power lines, and stay off flooded roads, especially at night when visibility will be limited. Hatcher also cautions against venturing out during or after the storm to survey damage, as doing so could impede emergency response efforts.

Once the storm passes, damage assessments will begin across Seminole County. These local evaluations will be combined with state and regional assessments to determine whether additional outside resources are needed. “Helene is a large storm that will affect multiple states,” Hatcher said. “In the event of major damage, state and federal resources, such as FEMA, will be available to assist residents.”

Hatcher emphasized that while Helene and Michael are different storms, both highlight the importance of preparation and community cooperation. “Michael hit us directly and caused severe wind damage,” he recalled. “Helene will bring a different kind of threat with more rain, but we’re ready.”

For those seeking information or assistance, Seminole County EMA can be reached at (229) 524-8956 or on Facebook. In an emergency, always call 911.

Farmers brace for Hurricane Helene in Seminole County and South Georgia

Farmers in Seminole County and across South Georgia have also been preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Helene, expected to bring heavy rains and strong winds that will impact the region.

The memory of Hurricane Michael, which devastated Seminole County in 2018, weighs heavily on the minds of local farmers. However, the lessons learned from that storm have led to improved preparedness among growers and residents alike.

Growers have been assessing their peanut and cotton crops and making critical management decisions aimed at minimizing potential losses. Many have documented the pre-storm condition of their fields to better understand the storm’s impact. Peanuts affected by diseases such as leaf spot and white mold have been harvested early to prevent further loss. Likewise, most defoliated cotton has been collected, as heavy rains and winds can severely affect its quality and yield.

Experts from UGA Extension recommend several proactive measures before the arrival of a storm: photographing fields before the storm, collecting samples to estimate pre-storm quality and yield potential, and harvesting any crops that are ready and/or more susceptible to damage.

Seminole County Extension Agent Justin Odom commented, “The effectiveness of farmers’ preparations will play a critical role in reducing crop losses. While we all hope for minimal impact, we remain alert and prepared for the worst. The storm is expected to move north out of the Southeast by Friday night, dissipating over land. Once the winds die down, the real work of assessing damages and losses will begin. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this storm.”