Hurricane Irma: North Fulton Braces For High Winds, Downpours

JOHNS CREEK, GA -- Cities in North Fulton County are preparing to roll out various tools in their arsenals to respond to Hurricane Irma. While the Category 5 hurricane's exact path remains uncertain, local governments aren't taking any chances on what the storm is capable of dumping on the Peach State.

In Johns Creek, the city's Fire Department and emergency operations staff members are closely monitoring the situation and assessing the hurricane, city spokesperson Jeff Breslau told Patch. Additionally, Mount Pisgah Christian School and Perimeter Church each have agreements with the Red Cross if a major disaster should occur and shelter is needed.

"We have not received calls or emails about the storm," he said, adding he's not aware of any areas in the city that experience severe flooding due to torrential downpours. "Our safety personnel routinely train and coordinate with surrounding municipalities' safety departments and are prepared to do so if needed."

Analysis: Irma's 'Cone Of Uncertainty' Is Massive

A briefing issued at noon Thursday by the National Weather Service shows Hurricane Irma remains a Category 5 storm and is moving WNW at 16 mph. The briefing notes this trend is expected to continue for the next 48 to 72 hours and the impact to Georgia is still four to six days away.

In North Fulton County, residents can expect tropical storm force winds and up to 2 inches of rain between Monday and Wednesday (SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app).

Alpharetta officials also have their eye on Irma. City spokesperson James Drinkard said they are monitoring the situation to "determine what level of response will be required here."

"As of this morning we were still looking at a situation in which the most likely issues would result from potential high winds that could take down trees, etc. and associated electric service interruptions," he added.

The city's Equestrian Center at Wills Park, which is a designated shelter for horses when storms or other disasters move into the southeast, already began making arrangements with the city earlier this week to prepare for Irma. Since making those plans, Drinkard added, the equestrian center's phone "has been ringing non-stop."

Like its counterparts in surrounding cities, Roswell officials are also keeping a watch on Irma. City spokesperson Julie Brechbill said some models indicate the city could begin seeing tropical storm-force winds as early as Sunday and the rain, she added, could be close behind.

"At this time we are not opening the Emergency Operations Center, but if Irma moves westward, it is possible that we would," she added.

Milton's Deputy Fire Chief Matthew Marietta said the city's emergency management team has begun ensuring its critical departments -- police, fire and public works -- are ready to respond to what Irma delivers to the area. Officials' main concerns are the potential for relentless rain, a slight chance of winds exceeding 40 mph and "brief spin-up tornadoes." This could mean the city upgrading its Emergency Operations Center to a monitoring status.

"We are ready to stand up a full EOC if needed, based on what develops over the next two or three days," he added. "Citizens should be weather-aware this weekend and especially Monday (and) into Tuesday."

While Marietta said no shelters have not been lined up in Milton at this time, the city and other counties will provide support to its counterparts in the coastal part of the state.

Gov. Nathan Deal on Thursday added 24 Georgia counties to the six along the Atlantic coast that were already under a state of emergency. Hampton's Atlanta Motor Speedway is open to campers who need a place to stay, while the metro's hotels are nearly full of people fleeing the storm.

For those worried about the impact of youngsters at school while in the path of Irma, the Fulton County School System is already keeping a close eye on developments. Spokesperson Susan Hale said its Safety and Security Department is monitoring information from NOAA, the National Hurricane Center and the National Weather Service for updates.

"At present we are only providing information briefings to our school administrators, since the most affected area is expected to be coastal Georgia," she added. "Should the weather models change and put metro Atlanta in the storm’s path, we will enact the appropriate next steps in our emergency plans."

Image via National Weather Service