Ware, Glynn closes the college campus on Wednesday whereas Southeast Georgia focuses on Elsa. ready

WARE COUNTY, Ga. – Ware County’s emergency management calls Elsa a rainy event. Officials said the site is already saturated and they expect fallen trees and power lines. Ware County is currently under flood protection.

Nancy Temple lives on Virginia Avenue in Waycross. She took News4Jax to her garden where the water is already on her ankles and she knows it will only get worse.

“It’s just from the little rain we’ve had for the past few days,” said Temple. “My garden is always flooded. It’s ankle deep. It all depends on the rain and could be deeper. “

With Elsa potentially bringing six inches of rain in some areas, Temple worries about her family and community.

“When it rains a lot, the canal is flooded and people can’t get out of there,” said Temple. “The school bus won’t come down there.”

Waycross fire chief David Eddins told News4Jax that rain drains would be cleared but didn’t say exactly how many. He said his crews as well as the city police are on standby to watch the latest developments from Elsa. Eddins encourages residents to look after their pets and secure outdoor items.

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“My yard is usually underwater,” said Terry Strickland, a Ware County resident. “The trenches are not flowing properly. It’s above your ankles. “

Jonathan Daniel, director of emergency management for Ware County, said there are 450 miles of unpaved roads in Ware County and public works workers have cleared rain drains. Dirt roads often become impassable during storms.

As Tropical Storm Elsa Georgia approaches, preparation is crucial.

The Ready Georgia campaign with @GeorgiaEMAHS provides additional guidance on the top 3 steps you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones. Https://t.co/HvvZixCvP9

– Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) July 6, 2021

In Camden County officials say they are monitoring Elsa’s movement and urging citizens to take precautions in areas with heavy rain. No evacuation plans or sandbagging facilities have been announced.

Glynn County and partners monitor the trail of Elsa as she nears the west coast of Florida.

At this time, the only cancellations and closings for Wednesday summer programs are at all Glynn County public schools, Jekyll Island outdoor activities, Glynn County public pools, and Glynn County District Court. Glynn County and the city of Braunschweig currently have no plans to close their offices.

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Closing the FJ Torras Causeway or the Sidney Lanier Bridge is also currently not planned. If strong winds persist, the Georgia Department of Transportation will make the decision on any closings.

Use this as a reminder to keep preparing for hurricane season.

• Complete your disaster kit.

• Make sure you have water and non-perishable foods for at least 3 days.

• Make sure you have extra medication and medical supplies.

• If your medication needs refrigeration, make sure you have a plan in place in case your power goes out for an extended period of time.

• Make sure that all of the information in your family communication plan is up to date and everyone is aware of the plan.

• Make arrangements for your pet. Make sure they are inside, outside the elements, and have plenty of food and water.

• Flooding is possible in low-lying areas; Turn around, don’t drown!

The county will continue to monitor conditions and provide updates as needed. Remember to limit travel during storm rush hour. Updates will be available at www.glynncounty.org. We encourage the public to use the latest forecast models from the National Weather Service Jacksonville.

All Ware County Schools offices and campuses will be closed on Wednesday due to the threat from Elsa, the district said on Tuesday.

All sporting events and training sessions scheduled for Wednesday have also been canceled.

The school has been closed since the end of May, but staff are still working on campus, explained Special Projects Director Paige Coker.

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Ruskin Elementary and Ware County High Schools in the northeast of the city are having major flooding issues on their campus, Coker said.

Currently the only school in session is the Daffodil Preschool Summer Enrichment Program with approximately 80 students. It was canceled for the whole week, Coker said.

All employees who work in July will work on Tuesday, but everything will be closed on Wednesday.

After the storm crosses the area, the district will assess facility and road conditions before announcing plans to reopen to the public.

These announcements will be made through email and Thrillshare Callout to employees and through Facebook, the district website and Thrillshare Callout to the public.

News4Jax declares an alarm day for the weather authorities for Wednesday.

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Forecasters predict Elsa could hit the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina after Florida.

Georgia Power shared some tips for customers who may be facing power outages due to the storm this week.

• Never touch dropped or low-hanging cables, including telephone or television cables, that are touching a power line.

• Never pull branches off power lines or step into areas with debris or fallen trees, as fallen power lines can be buried in rubble.

• Do not walk or drive through stagnant water or step on saturated ground that may have fallen pipes.

• Avoid chain link fences. They can be electrified out of sight by a fallen line and conduct electricity over long distances.

• Keep an eye out for the Georgia Power crews working across the state. When driving, you drive over a lane for commercial vehicles parked on the curb – this is a Georgia law.

• Protect electronics and devices. Disconnect or turn off any devices that automatically start when power is restored to avoid overloading the circuits when power is restored.

To track outage updates and review Georgia Power’s outage map, go to www.GeorgiaPower.com/Storm. You can also report outages and access useful safety tips and information. Customers can report and review the status of an outage 24 hours a day by contacting Georgia Power at 888-891-0938.

On Wednesday, Cumberland Island National Seashore and Fort Frederica National Monument will close due to Elsa visitor facilities and grounds for the safety of visitors and staff.

All visitors and campers left Cumberland Island on the last boat on Tuesday at 4:45 p.m. Camping is canceled from Tuesday night to Wednesday, with the possibility of extending it into the week, depending on the storm damage. Visitors with ferry or camping reservations affected by the cancellation are eligible for a full refund.

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Cumberland Island NS and Fort Frederica NM will remain closed until the storm is over and the National Park Service decides that staff and visitor facilities are safe.

If the track changes, the parks can issue a new alert with an updated status, including unblocking. Please refer to the Alerts section on the park website for the latest information. The NPS Hurricane and Severe Weather Response provides updates to all National Park Service websites.

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Officials announced Tuesday that efforts to remove the capsized cargo ship Golden Ray from St. Simons Sound will be suspended until after Elsa passes through.

“We are securing ships and equipment at local response facilities and within the wreck site in accordance with our severe weather procedures as the area is currently under tropical storm surveillance,” said Michael Himes, US Coast Guard petty officer. “Of course, our planning staff constantly update all employees with critical prognoses on the path and the predicted strength of Elsa.”

Himes said cutting operations would resume in section six after “all of the effects of Elsa have subsided and our assessment teams ensure the general safety of the wreck”.

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