Georgia officials declared a state of emergency in all counties on Sunday in preparation for Hurricane Irma after the National Weather Service issued a tropical storm warning in Cartersville – for the first time in the city’s history.
Georgia Governor Nathan Deal declared the state of emergency in 159 counties after Irma’s forecasted path threatened to unleash deadly wind gusts, heavy rain, and possible flooding.
The National Weather Service issued a Tropical Storm Warning in Bartow County, which means tropical storm force wind conditions are expected within the area within the next 36 hours. Wind gusts up to 50 mph with tropical storm-force winds could whip through starting Monday morning and into Tuesday, forecasters said. Peak winds were expected to reach 25 to 35 mph. Peak rainfall is expected to be three to five inches locally higher amounts.
Officials said Irma, a Category 3 storm as of Sunday afternoon, can damage porches, carports, sheds and unanchored mobile homes. Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 hurricane just after 9 a.m. Sunday, bringing 130 mph winds and inches of rain within hours.