Forsyth County Prepping For Hurricane Irma

CUMMING, GA — While it may seem a long way away from where Hurricane Irma is currently roiling in the Atlantic Ocean, Forsyth County is preparing for the storm's wrath, officials say.

Sheriff Ron Freeman said in a social media post that local officials are meeting "early and often" as they prepare to respond to the storm, which forecasters say could roll through north Georgia by Monday with tropical-storm force winds.

"While Forsyth County seems far from a target of a hurricane, the fact is we could be impacted," Freeman said in the post. He said the sheriff's office and other county leaders are closely watching the storm and planning the local response.

"We and our public safety partners are well prepped to respond to any series of emergencies that may arise in Forsyth County," Freeman said. "If we are blessed with no or little damage in FOCO, the Sheriff's Office Incident Response Team is prepped and ready to lend assistance to our coastal neighbors or any area of Georgia needing assistance."

Read: Hurricane Irma Jogs West, Weakens But Still Threatens Georgia

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According to the National Hurricane Center, Irma is expected to periods of heavy rain to much of Georgia, South Carolina, and western North Carolina early next week, the NHC said.

Those heavy rains could include mountainous areas like north Georgia, which are more prone to flash flooding. All areas seeing heavy rainfall from Irma will experience a risk of flooding and flash flooding, the center said.

The sheriff urged residents to take their storm preparations seriously and be prepared for traffic in the Atlanta area to be congested as evacuees from Florida and south Georgia move into the area. He encouraged residents to follow the Georgia Department of Transportation for accurate road closings and conditions south of Atlanta.

"Take care of your family and neighbors, and please say a prayer for the folks in Florida and our fellow Georgians as Irma heads towards our great state," Freeman said. "Know we will be here, ready and able."

Forsyth County residents may sign up here to receive emergency and weather alerts from county emergency officials.

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Photo courtesy National Hurricane Center