CEMA Tropical Storm Hanna News Release #12

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING has been issued for an area that includes Chatham County.

AT 11:00AM, the center of Tropical Storm Hanna was located near latitude 28.9 N, 79.2W, or approximately 220 miles South-Southeast of Chatham County. Movement is to the Northwest near 17 MPH.

The National Weather Service has issued Tropical Storm WARNINGS from Altamaha Sound, GA northward along the Atlantic Coast to Sandy Hook, NJ. Hanna continues to move to the northwest but a turn to the north is expected later today. On Saturday, Hanna is expected to increase in forward speed and slightly strengthen before making landfall near Myrtle Beach, SC. Upon making landfall, Hanna will begin weakening immediately. It is expected that the center of Hanna will be near the southeast coast of the United States this afternoon and tonight.

Because tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 315 miles from the center of Hanna, Chatham County residents should finalize their preparations for the possibility of power outages and downed trees. It is also expected that Chatham County will experience slightly higher tides, 2-3 inches of rain, and the possibility of 35-45 mph wind with gusts reaching 65 mph on Friday evening. ANY INDIVIDUALS WHO RELY ON ELECTRICITY FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES SHOULD FINALIZE EMERGENCY PREPARATIONS. If you would like to sign up for the Chatham County Special Needs Registry, please call 912-356-2441.

CEMA updates will continue throughout the day as staff monitors the storm. Evacuation orders have not been issued.

CEMA continues to remain in Operating Conditions 4, to monitor Tropical Storm Hanna’s path.

Again, please be advised that there are two additional storms in the Atlantic: Hurricane Ike (which is currently a Category 4) and Tropical Storm Josephine. It is strongly recommended that Chatham County residents continue making improvements to their family preparedness plans. If you do not have family and pet evacuation plans, please establish them now (including evacuation transportation) for precautionary purposes.