How to report a power outage
Don’t call 911 if you’re experiencing a power outage. Contact your provider instead.
If Georgia Power is your provider, you can fill out this online form.
You can also find the contact information for your local Georgia EMC here.
Calhoun sees heavy rain, radar indicates
Chattanooga weather radar indicates heavy rain is falling in Calhoun, TV meteorologist David Glenn reported.
The downpours were heading to Dalton and Chatsworth, Chattanooga TV station WTVC radar showed in its live coverage of severe weather in North Georgia.
Glenn warned of possible large hail between Resaca and Dalton off Interstate 75.
What to do if you spot a tornado while driving
Do not attempt to outdrive or outrun a tornado.
Instead, GEMA recommends driving to the nearest building and seeking shelter immediately.
An overpass is not a safe shelter during a tornado, and GEMA advises against seeking refuge in a vehicle.
Augusta facing winds up to 30 mph Sunday
Augusta is not in the crosshairs for severe weather.
But the home of the Masters golf tournament could face winds Sunday up to 30 mph, the National Weather Service said.
Rain is in the forecast with possible thunderstorms before 1 p.m. Sunday, the weather service said.
Rain will continue until about 11 p.m. Sunday, forecasters said.
Five safety tips to prepare for severe storms, tornadoes
1. Turn around when encountering flooded roads.
2. Secure outdoor objects.
3. Avoid driving in strong winds.
4. Shelter in your basement or an interior room with no windows in case of a tornado.
5. Have your phone charged in case you lose power.
Read more here.
Tornado reports are coming in from outside Georgia
According to the National Weather Service, by 7:30 p.m., there had been 16 tornadoes reported since about 11:30 a.m. Those reports had not yet been confirmed by the agency. The possible tornadoes were reported in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
For updated reports, click here.
‘Atlanta, do not let your guard down,’ AccuWeather forecaster says
AccuWeather meteorologist Geoff Cornish said Atlanta will remain in the high risk zone for tornadoes through early Sunday morning.
In his 7:30 p.m. update, Cornish noted that Atlanta was experiencing winds higher than 30 mph already as storms approach. He warned of flooding problems in northern Georgia in wake of possible heavy rainfall.
“Atlanta, do not let your guard down,” Cornish said.
Douglas County shelters to open at 8 p.m. Saturday
Douglas County plans to open two community storm shelters at 8 p.m. Saturday, the county’s management department said.
The locations: Deer Lick Park Gym, 2105 Mack Rd., Douglasville, and Lithia Springs Senior Center, 7301 Groovers Lake Rd.
Storm shelters open across metro Atlanta
Atlanta – The Central Park Recreation Center on Merritts Avenue and the Old Adamsville Recreation Center at Delmar Lane.
DeKalb County – Frontline Response International on Gresham Road, the North DeKalb Senior Community Center on Malone Drive, the Mason Mill Recreation Center on McConnell Drive, and the Exchange Park Intergeneration Center on Columbia Drive.
Coweta County – The Nest on 1st Avenue, Change Church on West Broad Street, Sargent Baptist Church on Sargent Main Street, and Moreland United Methodist Church on Church Street.
Douglas County – The Lithia Springs Senior Center on Veterans Memorial Highway and Deer Lick Park on Mack Road.
Heard County – Glenloch Baptist Church on Glenloch Road and Heard County High School on East Court Square.
Troup County – The Hogansville Police Department on Lincoln Street and the old Whitesville Road Elementary School building on Whitesville Road.
Storm system has ‘underperformed so far,’ meteorologist says
Storms bound for Georgia will pass through Alabama first.
That state’s high-rated TV meteorologist said three confirmed tornadoes have touched down in Alabama as of 7 p.m. Eastern time, with no major damage reported so far outside of heavy rain and trees down.
“So far, the system has underperformed,” WBMA-TV meteorologist James Spann in Birmingham said.
He cautioned that storms later Saturday night and Sunday morning could be more severe.
