Sept. 12, 2018 Hurricane Florence Update

With Hurricane Florence making a Southern turn over the past 24 hours, here is what Bulloch County residents need to know….

Hurricane Florence Information  

The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency is actively monitoring Hurricane Florence and is coordinating with our federal, state, local, public and private sector partners to ensure we are ready to respond.

Out-of-state Evacuees

• Georgia State Parks, including campsites and cottages, are open to evacuees. Georgia State Parks will not be turning away any visitors seeking assistance.
• All cabins will be allowed to accommodate domestic pets. Pet fees will be waived during this weather event.
• Parks that currently have overnight equestrian facilities will allow visitors traveling with horses to use portable corrals and high lines (with tree saver straps).  AH Stephens State Park will utilize the event field as an overflow for their equestrian campground.
• For information about parks, updates and how to rent facilities please go to https://gastateparks.org/alerts.
• The Atlanta Motor Speedway camping facilities are open for evacuees seeking refuge from Hurricane Florence. Campgrounds utilized will be Legends for dry camping and Premium (main entrance road) for hook-ups.
• More information can be found at http://www.atlantamotorspeedway.com/media/news/ams-opening-camping-facilities-hurricane-florence-evacuees.html.
• Georgia Department of Agriculture has temporarily suspended interstate movement requirements for animals evacuating from Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Visit the Ga. Department of Agriculture website​ for more information.
• We are monitoring fuel supplies across the state, and there are no fuel shortages reported at this time.

Free Boat Storage

Custom Marine in Statesboro is offering free boat storage for those who need a safer place to store your boat. Please call them first at (912) 681-7777 to make sure they have space, and bring your boat as soon as possible. They will store your boat on our fully fenced, 5-acre lot, free of charge.

From Bulloch County Schools…

As of 11 a.m. Wednesday, schools will remain open for Thursday and Friday. We continue to monitor Hurricane Florence, and we are receiving regular briefings from Bulloch County EMA and the National Hurricane Center at 5 a.m., 11 a.m., and 5 p.m., daily.  With Hurricane Florence’s current track, Bulloch EMA is advising that rain and wind will arrive in our area early Saturday morning and remain through the weekend.

We will begin to see winds pick up, midday Thursday,  and we may experience an increase in traffic as people leave South Carolina.  We have been advised that these will not be at a level to warrant closing schools at this time.

We are actively working our weather safety plan. We are checking our campuses for any items that need to be moved inside or secured, and our school food services personnel have a plan in place to preserve our food storage should our schools lose power over the weekend.

Again, it is always wise to plan early to ensure your family has the supplies needed in the event of sustained power outages.  Visit www.Ready.gov for ways to prepare your family for severe weather and emergencies.  Also monitor updates on the web and social media from Bulloch County EMA  for local public safety updates and Bulloch Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD) for local and area response needs and volunteer opportunities.

Bulloch County Schools will continue to communicate information about school operations via our website, social media, media, local public safety partners, and our One Call Now email and telephone messaging system.