Hurricane Michael In GA: Girl Dies, $2B Crop Loss, 224K In Dark

GEORGIA —President Donald Trump has declared a state of emergency in Georgia after Hurricane Michael carved a path of destruction across central and south Georgia Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Residents across the Peach State have started the task of assessing the damage left behind as Michael, now a tropical storm, left hundreds of thousands of people without power, and is also responsible for the death of an 11-year-old girl in the southwest corner of the state.

Sarah Radney of Cairo died when a leg of the carport crashed through the roof of her grandparents' home in Seminole County and struck her in the head, according to the Associated Press. Sarah's father and stepmother, Roy and Amber Radney, were at their home about 45 miles away, and frequently called as the hurricane pummeled the area. Roy Radney got the call that the leg of the carport hit Sarah and his mother. Sarah couldn't breathe and became unresponsive, dying about 45 minutes later.

In a press conference held Thursday, Gov. Nathan Deal said about 400,000 people were without power. As of 11 p.m., PowerOutage.US reported that 179,118 Georgians were without power. Georgia Power lists the most customers who are powerless, at 86,121, while Georgia EMC has 153,065 customers in the dark.

As Georgia farmers feared, the state’s main cash crops of cotton, pecans and peanuts have been devastated to the tune of an estimated $2 billion worth of damage to the Georgia economy, according to the Georgia State Agriculture Commissioner's Office. The true amount of the destruction to crops may not yet be known because reports are still coming in.

The storm's hardest hit counties include 99 percent of residents in Stewart and Grady counties are without power, as are 98 percent citizens in Decatur, Worth and Lee counties, 97 percent of residents in Seminole, Dougherty and Randolph counties, 96 percent residents in Miller and Mitchell counties, 87 percent of Calhoun County residents and about 86 percent of citizens in Sumter County, according to Poweroutage.us. It should be noted that the Poweroutage site does not track 10 EMCs that serve portions of Georgia.

In northwest Atlanta, a woman was taken to the hospital just before 6 a.m. Thursday after a tree fell onto her car, according to WSB. In DeKalb County, a car slid into Briar Vista Lake Wednesday night, and emergency officials retrieved it Thursday morning. According to the AJC, no one was in the car at the time, and it's unclear as to whether the storm's heavy rains caused the car to veer into the lake.

As much as 6 inches of rain fell on metro Atlanta, according to the National Weather Service. The city itself broke a single-day rainfall accumulation record set back in 1990 of 1.59 inches with Wednesday's 3.42 inches.

In southwest Atlanta's Cascade Heights, the National Weather Service confirmed a weak tornado touched down around 6:30 p.m.

On Wednesday night, President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency in Georgia, allowing several FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate disaster relief efforts, and provide federal emergency assistance.

One barometer of the storm — whether Waffle Houses were still opened — gave hope that Michael only dealt the state a glancing blow, with none of the chain's locations closed as the hurricane pushed through on its way to South Carolina.

Governor Deal during the press conference provide an update on the statewide assessment of the damage. The Georgia Forestry Commission has nine chainsaw strike teams working to remove debris from roadways so power and rescue crews can move into the areas in dire need of assistance. The main focus of crews across the state will be debris removal so EMCs and power companies can begin to access areas that are without electricity.

Watch the governor's press conference here.

The Georgia State Patrol has dispatched initial response teams to assist local law enforcement agencies, and the Georgia Department of Transportation reports 127 state routes are closed due to downed trees and power lines. An additional 120 roads reportedly are littered with debris. Deal said that number is expected to increase throughout the day.

The Department of Corrections has also sent seven debris removal teams to assist in that task, and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency and Homeland Security are working with local EMAs to assess additional sheltering needs. The American Red Cross, Deal added, has opened six shelters across the affected part of the state with, 372 residents utilizing those spaces. Twenty hospitals and 15 nursing homes that reported power outages are currently using backup generators and are in communication with the Georgia Department of Public Health on their needs. GEMA is also working with telecommunication carriers to conduct damage assessments of cell towers in southwest Georgia.

Deal said he spoke directly with President Donald Trump, and said the White House has been supportive and responsive to the state's needs. Georgia has received partial funding to assist with debris removal in the hardest hit counties. Deal also said he hopes President Trump will make a stop in the Peach State to get a first-hand look the destruction left in Hurricane Michael's wake.

Major General Joe Gerard with the Georgia National Guard said 1,500 soldiers have moved in to help with route clearance in affected areas. He also said two distribution points have been set up to assist residents and first responders. They've also alerted area military police, and 150 of those public servants will be sent to Albany to help Georgia State troopers.

While it may be tempting to get out and take a look around your neighborhood, Deal urged residents to avoid that basic instinct and to remain indoors. One of the greatest impediments to restoring power, the governor said, is with "people who get in the way of the power trucks and the crews who are working" to restore electricity following a natural disaster. While being without power is difficult, this inconvenience is often dragged out by those who ignore calls to remain in place.

“I would ask them to be patient," he said when asked what message he has for the affected Peach state residents. "Do not impede those who are trying to help you.”

One of the hardest hit areas was the city of Bainbridge in Decatur County. The city said on its Facebook page that it was "bent, but not broken," and shared a slew of photos of damage around town. Some of the photos show windows shattering businesses and buildings, and trees and limbs littering streets and front yards.

Bainbridge City Manager Chris Hobby told The Post Searchlight that the damage can only be described as "apocalyptic," as the entire city is without power and many roadways are closed due to downed trees. He told the newspaper that it will be "several days" before electricity will be restored to Bainbridge.

As of 11 a.m., Michael now stands as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds at 50 mph, and is about 35 miles south-southeast of Charlotte, North Carolina, the National Hurricane Center said. The storm will continue to trek across central South Carolina this morning, and enter portions of central and eastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia this afternoon and this evening, then over the Atlantic Ocean by late tonight or early Friday.

"Little change in strength is expected today, with the strongest winds primarily spreading northward along the coast of the Carolinas," NHC added. "Michael is forecast to intensify as it becomes a post-tropical low over the Atlantic late tonight or early Friday. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 160 miles (260 km) mainly over water to the southeast of the center."

Georgia's congressional delegation has written a letter to President Trump, urging him to take immediate action to provide aid to Georgians impacted by Hurricane Michael. The bipartisan letter said the delegation is "in full support of Gov. Nathan Deal's request for an emergency declaration for the state of Georgia in anticipation of Hurricane Michael."

"As the current projections indicate, this major hurricane will significantly impact Georgia communities, and we urge you to approve requests to ensure that full federal resources are made available for counties currently under the declaration and those that may be determined to be in need of emergency federal assistance in the coming days," the letter states.

Michael's devastation is also apparent by the state of Georgia's crops. Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black said some pecan farmers affected last year by Hurricane Irma "somewhat escaped" the worst of the storm while others can't even begin to tell the difference between their own harvest and Michael's handiwork.

"It’s very serious day for agriculture," he added. "This is going to have a lingering effect."

Clay Pirkle, a cotton farmer and state representative from Turner County, said his crop is "as bad as it gets."

"I was picking three-bale cotton yesterday, today it is gone," he said, according to the Agriculture Department's Georgia Grown Facebook page. "Can't tell the difference between what I've picked and what I haven't."

Patch is tracking every move of Hurricane Michael. Get all the updates on the storm by subscribing to Patch's free breaking news alerts and daily newsletters.

SEE ALSO:

• Hurricane Michael Devastates Georgia’s Agricultural Industry
• Girl Fatally Crushed By Carport During Hurricane Michael
• Hurricane Michael: Storm Brings Down Trees In Cherokee County

All hurricane, tropical storm and tornado-related watches and warnings have been canceled, but the National Weather Service notes flash flooding is likely to occur in the counties in which Tropical Storm Michael traveled.

According to the Macon Telegraph, the National Weather Service confirmed three tornadoes touched down in Middle Georgia: one around Perry at 4 p.m., Fort Valley at 4:30 p.m. and third one reported in the town of Roberta.

School closures:

The following central Georgia schools/colleges have announced closures as a result of Michael: Bibb County, closed Thursday (affects staff only); Bleckley County, closed Thursday; Brentwood Academy, closed Thursday; Central Fellowship Christian Academy, closed Thursday; Covenant Academy, closed Thursday; Crawford County Schools, closed Thursday; Crisp County Schools, closed Wednesday and Thursday; Crisp Academy, closed Thursday; Dodge County, closed on Thursday; Dooly County, closed Thursday; Dublin City Schools, closed Thursday; First Presbyterian Day School, closed Thursday; Fullington Academy, closedThursday; Georgia Academy for the Blind, closed Wednesday for students, staff reports at 8 a.m.; GMC Prep School; Hancock County, closed Thursday; Jasper County Schools, closed Thursday; Laurens County, closed Thursday; Monroe County Schools, closed Thursday; Montessori of Macon, closed Thursday; Peach County Schools, closed Thursday; Pulaski County Schools, closed Thursday; St. Andrews Montessori, closedThursday; St. Joseph Catholic School, closed Thursday; Stratford Academy, closed Thursday; Tatnall Square Academy, closed Thursday; Taylor County Schools, closed Thursday; Telfair County Schools, closed Thursday and Friday; Treutlen County Schools, closed Thursday and Friday; Trinity Christian School, closed Thursday; Washington County, closed Thursday; Westfield School, closed Thursday; Wheeler County, closed Thursday; Wilkinson County, closed Thursday; Windsor Academy, closed Thursday; and Woodfield Academy, closedThursday.

Fort Valley State University, University of Georgia, Albany State University, Georgia Southern University and the University of North Georgia's Oconee campus also said they will be closed for classes and operations on Thursday.

MORE:

• President Trump May Visit Hurricane Michael-Ravaged Georgia
• Georgia Braces For 'Monstrous' Hurricane Michael's Impact
• Delta Waives Baggage Fees, Prepares For Hurricane Michael

Waffle House Index:

Federal officials have said they can figure out the severity of a storm by the "Waffle House Index," a phrase used by former FEMA administrator Craig Fugate.

WFXL in Albany is reporting that Waffle Houses across southwest Georgia will stay open during Hurricane Michael.

"They'll serve hot meals, even if the power goes out. Each location has generators, an extra supply of food and water, and a full staff on hand," the story notes. "There will be at least 30 employees working during the storm."

The CBS station in Panama City Beach, Fla. is reporting the Waffle House there is "officially closed."

"A Waffle House in Panama City Beach pulled out the storm shutters and locked its doors Tuesday as Michael approached the Florida panhandle," the report said. "A sign at the restaurant located just across from the beach on Highway 30-A says it plans to open as soon as the storm passes."

Airlines:

As of 12:30 p.m., Delta has resumed flights to coastal Florida, as well as parts of Georgia, with some minor delays, as airports in the region reopened following Michael’s passage. No disruption at the airline’s hub in Atlanta is expected Thursday.

As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, Delta Airlines had cancelled around 80 flights and several more flights were delayed. Ten have been cancelled so far Thursday. Most of the canceled flights are from Florida and include Tallahassee, Pensacola, Panama City and Destin-Fort Walton Beach.

GDOT:

With major inland impacts expected in southern and coastal Georgia, as well as central Georgia, GDOT has deployed Special Response Teams including:

400 responders in southwest Georgia
400 responders in coastal Georgia
175 responders in east central Georgia
175 responders in west central Georgia
Eight bridge inspection teams in areas expected to be most impacted
CHAMP units in GDOT Districts 3, 4, and 5 have added additional shifts and are now operating for 24-hours

Travel & Road Conditions

For real-time road conditions, call 511 or visit Georgia511.

The Decatur County Sheriff's Office said restoration operations are underway Thursday morning.

"Decatur County roads are a very dangerous place right now," the agency said. "There is nothing you can do so please stay home. Do not call 911 unless it's an emergency. You can call Sheriff's Office at 229-248-3044 and we will do our best to assist you. We believe this will be a prolonged power outage."

Decatur County Sheriff Wiley Griffin added the first priority will be to get all state roads open "so we can get electrical power crews, law enforcement, wreckers, road clearing crews and search & rescue crews in here to help us."

"This will be a prolonged power event," he said on his Facebook page. "Please be patient."

The Columbus Consolidated Government asked all citizens to be off the streets by 3 p.m. Wednesday, but has since returned to normal operations Thursday morning.

Macon-Bibb County Mayor Robert Reichert on Tuesday declared a state of emergency for the area for the duration of the storm's impact on the county. The consolidated government was bracing for sustained winds of 35 to 45 miles per hour, with gusts as high as 50 to 60 miles per hour. It also planned for 3 to 5 inches of rain, with some areas receiving at least 6 inches.

The Macon-Bibb County Emergency Operations Center was activated and will remain up and running until Hurricane Michael's wrath on the county passes. A shelter for evacuees also opened Tuesday.

“The storm has passed and now the hard work begins,” Macon-Bibb County Emergency Management Agency posted Thursday morning. "Hurricane Michael was a Category 1 storm as it came through Middle Georgia, and it left as a Tropical Storm. By 3 a.m. Thursday, Macon-Bibb County Public Works crews began investigating nearly 35 reports of either downed trees or blocked roads, and by 5 a.m., they had reopened 12 roads."

In Sumter County, Emergency Management Agency Director Nigel Poole posted around 9:30 a.m. on the department's Facebook page a call-out asking if residents with vehicles can assist with damage assessment. That report, he said, will be sent to the Georgia Emergency Management Agency.

"I really need you guy's help right now," he said in a video message.

Counties included in Governor's Emergency Declaration:

Governor Nathan Deal on Tuesday issued a state of emergency for 108 counties: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Baker, Baldwin, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bibb, Bleckley, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Butts, Calhoun, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Chattahoochee, Clarke, Clay, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Crawford, Crisp, Decatur, Dodge, Dooly, Dougherty, Early, Echols, Effingham, Elbert, Emanuel, Evans, Glascock, Glynn, Grady, Greene, Hancock, Houston, Irwin, Jasper, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Jones, Lamar, Lanier, Laurens, Lee, Liberty, Lincoln, Long, Lowndes, Macon, Marion, McDuffie, McIntosh, Miller, Mitchell, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Muscogee, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Peach, Pierce, Pulaski, Putnam, Quitman, Randolph, Richmond, Schley, Screven, Seminole, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taliferoo, Tattnall, Taylor, Telfair, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Turner, Twiggs, Upson, Ware, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Wheeler, Wilcox, Wilkes, Wilkinson and Worth counties. To read the executive order, see attached or click here. A map of the counties under emergency declaration is also attached.For more information on hurricane preparedness, visit the GEMA/HS website here.

Patch Editors Kristal Dixon and Tim Darnell contributed to this story.

Note: A previous edition of this story reported the girl killed was a toddler. The story has been corrected to note her age.

Top Photo: Gore Lakes Rd off of Mt Olivet in Paulding County is shut down after the road washed away. Courtesy Paulding County Fire & Rescue

Photo: Phlomena Telker stands on what was her covered porch after hurricane Michael tore the roof of her home as it passed through the area on October 10, 2018 in Panama City, Florida. The hurricane hit the Florida Panhandle as a category 4 storm. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Photo: A woman checks on her vehicle as the eye of Hurricane Michael passes through, after the hotel canopy had just collapsed, in Panama City Beach, Fla., Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)