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Liberty County and Hinesville officials urge residents to prepare as Hurricane Helene nears
Summary
Liberty County and City of Hinesville officials warned residents to monitor local weather and social media as Hurricane Helene approaches, citing a high tornado risk, gusts of 40–60 mph, 1.5–3 inches of rain in most areas and a possible 1–3 foot storm surge along the Georgia coast.
Chair opened a public briefing for Liberty County and asked residents to follow county and city social channels for updates as Hurricane Helene approaches.
City Manager Kenneth Howard urged vigilance, saying Hinesville is monitoring the storm and will keep residents informed. "At this point in time, as Hurricane Helene approaches City of Hinesville and Liberty County," Kenneth Howard said, "we need you to really stay tuned, stay alert, and stay informed." He advised that tornadoes associated with the storm "could happen at any point in time throughout the next 24 to 48 hours" and instructed residents to shelter in interior rooms away from windows if a tornado warning is issued.
Emergency Management Director Bob Dodd delivered the detailed forecast and safety guidance. "Hurricane Helene is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane as it moves northward across the Eastern Gulf of Mexico today," Dodd said, adding the storm was forecast to make landfall around the Big Bend area of Florida and track northward across Georgia into early Friday. Dodd described Helene as "a very large storm with impacts extending well to the east of where the storm tracks." He warned of a high tornado risk that will increase this afternoon and peak tonight into early Friday morning.
Dodd gave specific hazard projections: tropical-storm-force gusts mainly in the 40–60 miles per hour range, rainfall averaging 1.5 to 3 inches with isolated higher amounts possible west of I‑95, and a possible 1 to 3 foot storm surge along Georgia's south‑southeast coast. He also warned residents to pick up loose outdoor debris and furniture and to operate generators only outdoors with proper ventilation.
On operations, Kenneth Howard said Hinesville had closed nonessential city facilities for the next two days (Thursday and Friday) while maintaining sanitation pickup and keeping utilities connected "until we get on the other side of this storm." Dodd said no evacuations were planned or expected at this time but encouraged residents to prepare and to know how to shelter quickly if conditions change.
For questions and official updates, Dodd directed residents to the Liberty County Emergency Operations Center at (912) 368-2202, libertycountyga.com, and the Liberty County EMA and Liberty County, Georgia Facebook pages. The briefing closed with a final appeal from the Chair for residents to stay off wet roads unless travel is necessary and to follow official channels for continued updates.
The county said it will continue to monitor conditions and post updates; residents should check local weather broadcasts and the named county and city social pages for the latest advisories.
