By Karen May Mendoza
Eagle News Service
ATLANTA, Georgia (Eagle News) – As Irma moved north towards Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina, the hurricane has been downgraded to a tropical storm. But due to the estimated 60mph winds expected, it is still extremely dangerous.
Governor Nathan Deal declared a State of Emergency for all Georgia counties on Sunday, September 10, 2017, prompting schools and government buildings to be closed on Monday, September 11. MARTA, the metropolitan train line, and car service, Uber, also suspended all services until further notice.
Residents were encouraged to stay off of the roads and to seek shelter early in the day, when conditions included relatively light winds and rain. As the day continued, however, the winds and rain were expected to pick up.
Based on the latest data from the National Hurricane Center, Irma is already weakening but heavy rains will continue across the Southeastern United States.
“As of 8:00 PM EDT Mon Sep 11 the center of Irma was located near 31.9, -84.4 with movement NNW at 16 mph. The minimum central pressure was 986 mb with maximum sustained winds of about 45 mph.”
Nearly one million people are without power in Georgia, while 70% of pump stations are out, warning residents to conserve water.
Due to heavy winds, trees and power lines are down, causing street closures in some of the busiest intersections across the state. Traffic lights in the city of Atlanta and its suburban surroundings are out, and the Atlanta Police Department asked the public to give thoughtful consideration to calling 911 only for life-threatening emergencies.
So far, Tropical Storm Irma has been blamed for two deaths, due to the heavy winds and a tree falling on a residential home.
All flights have been cancelled from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, one of the busiest airports in the southeast.
Conditions are expected to worsen as Tropical Storm Irma fully moves over the metropolitan Atlanta area on Monday evening.
(Eagle News Service)