Colquitt County curfew takes effect at 8 p.m.

Published 5:11 pm Sunday, September 10, 2017

MOULTRIE, Ga. — The time to grab any last-minute supplies is running out, with less than three hours before the county initiates a county-wide curfew lasting from 8 p.m. Sunday-6 a.m. Tuesday.

Depending on the severity of damage in Colquitt County from the massive Hurricane Irma, curfews could be extended if necessary.

Law enforcement and emergency management officials made the decision to keep drivers off the roads and pedestrians off the streets during a Sunday afternoon meeting that also included medical personnel, electric companies, elected officials from Moultrie and other cities and Colquitt County Commission. State Rep. Sam Watson, R-Moultrie, and Jody Redding from U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson’s office also were there.

The latest information available at that time was that Irma would impact Colquitt County at about 7 a.m. Monday, bringing sustained winds of up to 58 miles per hour.

The eye is expected to the west of the county some time around 11 a.m.-noon Monday. A few hours later the storm, expected to dump 6 to 10 inches of rain, will be moving out of the area.

As usual, that could change. Overnight Saturday the massive storm, initially expected to make a run up the middle of Florida before turning toward the Georgia coast and toward South Carolina, made a shift. That shift put the storm moving into the Gulf of Mexico on the western side of Florida, threatening Tampa and other coastal cities before heading toward the Tallahassee area.

Residents can expect to face possible extended power outages, as work crews will not be able to make repairs until the wind calms down to a safe level. Road workers also won’t be able to begin removing what is expected to be a considerable number of trees that fall onto roadways until conditions are safe.

Public safety agencies will respond to emergencies such as downed power lines and any flooding that is a threat to lives.

“They’re predicting some power outages,” Russell Moody, Colquitt County emergency management director, told the 100 or so officials gathered in the County Commission’s meeting room. “We don’t know how long it’s going to be.”

Just as officials want people off the roadways so emergency workers can do their jobs,  they also stressed that 911 lines should be kept open for emergency situations only. Reporting a power outage or a tree that fell on a car are not considered emergencies.

Moody pointed out that Colquitt EMC and Georgia Power have spot meters that tell them of residential power outages.

“They’re going to know your power is out almost as soon as you know your power is out,” he said.

The curfew will be enforced by police, and includes all municipalities as well as unincorporated Colquitt County.

As of about 3 p.m., there were 10 shelters scheduled to open. There will be no Red Cross shelters here, so those who come should bring whatever they can in terms of bedding and other needs and plan to stay for 24 to 48 hours.

The voluntary evacuation means those who feel uncomfortable in their housing if faced with 80 mile-per-hour winds should seek safer shelter, Moody said.

The shelters include: Heritage Church near the intersection of South Main Street and Highway 33; Pine Grove Baptist Church; Ellenton City Hall and Emmanuel Praise Church, also in Ellenton.

In Moultrie the shelters are set up at Southwest Gym, Meredith Gym near the diving well, Moultrie Police Department, Ryce Community Center and Northwest Youth Center, and Kingwood Baptist Church.

Officials also warned residents to be safe with generators, making sure they are not inside, are well ventilated and not too close to the residence as to be a fire hazard.

But most importantly, cut off the home’s main breaker before hooking them into the lines so as not to injure or kill a lineman working on restoring power.

Red Cross shelters are available at the Albany Civic Center, the ABAC campus in Tifton and Blackshear School in Cordele.

Moody also advised those who will be out working to be safe and attend to their family’s safety so they will be comfortable leaving them to head to work knowing they’re safe.

“Be safe and take care of yourself,” he said. “Take care of your home.”