Columbus opens shelter for Hurricane Irma evacuees as Gov. Deal expands state of emergency

Governor Nathan Deal declared a state of emergency in the following Georgia counties in preparation for Hurricane Irma: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Brantley, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Echols, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Glynn, Jenkins, Jeff Davis, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, Pierce, Screven, Tattnall, Toombs, Treutlen, Wayne and Ware Counties.

A mandatory evacuation order will also take effect for Chatham county, all areas east of I-95 and some areas of I-95.

“I ask all Georgians to join me in praying for the safety of our people and all those in Hurricane Irma’s path,” Deal said.

The National Weather Service released a graphic showing the best and worst case scenarios for Irma’s effects on the southeast, and predicted that the best-case scenario would involve tornadoes and heavy rain if the storm moves north over Tallahassee and up through central or eastern Georgia.

The worst case scenario would be if Irma lingers off the east coast from Miami all the way up past Savannah and to Charleston, which would result in “major impacts” from wind and storm surges.

The most recent models from the National Hurricane Center put Irma on a collision course with south Florida and then tracking north-northwest either up the peninsula or along the east coast. The chances of a “direct impact” on Georgia are increasing, but it is still to early to specify the size or potential of the impact, the National Hurricane Center said.

The storm will pass over the Bahamas and Cuba between Saturday and Sunday and is expected to reach Florida by 2 p.m. Sunday.

Tropical-storm-force winds are expected to reach Georgia by Sunday afternoon, with the hurricane potentially hitting the state as a powerful Category 3 storm.

Evacuees have already booked nearly every hotel room in Georgia, including those in Columbus. Columbus State University will host more than 130 students from Armstrong State University after the university announced an emergency closure.

Hurricane Irma, still a Category 5 storm and the largest ever recorded in the Atlantic, has already been linked to at least 10 deaths and has caused massive damage to the Caribbean islands of Barbuda and St. More than a million residents in Puerto Rico are without power.

“This could easily be the most costly storm in U.S. history, which is saying a lot considering what just happened two weeks ago,” Brian McNoldy, a hurricane researcher at the University of Miami told the Orlando Sentinel.

The barrier islands, coast and low-lying areas in Miami-Dade and Broward counties have been ordered to evacuate, the Miami Herald reported.

“We will continue monitoring Hurricane Irma’s path in the days ahead and coordinating with our federal, state and local partners. I urge Georgians in the affected counties to remain vigilant and be prepared,” Governor Deal said.

This story was originally published September 7, 2017 at 12:37 PM with the headline "Columbus opens shelter for Hurricane Irma evacuees as Gov. Deal expands state of emergency."