______________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 6, 2024
CONTACT:
Office of Communications
opc@savannahga.gov
Tropical Storm Debby News Release #5
City of Savannah continues response to major storm event
SAVANNAH – The City of Savannah emergency crews continue to respond to impacts from Tropical Storm Debby and will remain in an emergency response posture through Tuesday evening.
City crews are currently addressing significant flooding in the Tremont Park neighborhood, extreme caution should be used in this area and drivers are advised to avoid the area entirely at this time. Tremont Road at the Musgrove Canal crossing is closed. High water levels are present on Ogeechee Road just east of I-516.
The City urges residents to remain vigilant and be aware of potential impacts this evening including downed trees, flooded roadways and downed power lines. If a flooded roadway is encountered, the best option is to turn around and find an alternative route.
Residents can call 311 to report downed trees and flooded roadways, ask a question about City services, or submit a service request. Service requests can also be submitted online at Savannahga.gov/311request. Residents are urged to download the SAV311 app for quick service request submission.
If a downed power line is encountered it should not be approached, residents should call 911 to report and alert Georgia Power at 888-891-0938.
For updates specific to the City of Savannah, residents are encouraged to follow @cityofsavannah on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter, or visit savannahga.gov/debby. City employees are encouraged to call into the City’s emergency information hotline for updates at 833-251-6020.
City of Savannah offices remain closed on Tuesday. A decision on all City operations for Wednesday will be announced Tuesday evening.
On Monday, City rain gauges recorded 8.0 inches of rain Downtown, 8.5 inches of rain at the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, and 8.2 inches on the southside of the city. All drainage canals are full, but none have crested.
Three City wells lost power, but generators supplemented power to keep them running. Full power was restored at 7 a.m. this morning. Sewer lift stations reported 25 high levels with five power outages, five motor failures and three calls from residents regarding sewer backup. All issues have been addressed.
On Sunday and Monday, the City distributed 150 tons of sand to the public.
The City’s Park and Tree Department responded to one call overnight. A tree was down across Roger Warlick Road and was cleared at 8 p.m. A majority of calls received were related to downed limbs. Park and Tree has 23 open service requests they are assessing today.
On Monday, Savannah Fire Department conducted 18 water rescues and responded to 106 calls from 911. Savannah Police Department responded to 881 calls from 911. City crews responded to one major incident on Dundee Street of a fallen tree on a home. The family was rescued.
A total of 71 people were served in various City and partner shelters. Coordinating with the American Red Cross, the City housed two people at Enmarket Arena. Tompkins Regional Center housed 45 people overnight.
Staff with the Chatham Savannah Authority for the Homeless (CSAH) provided transportation for 116 people to shelter partners.
Street flooding is still widespread throughout the City, and while multiple street closures are occurring, extreme caution should be used if driving through the City. For the latest map of flood prone areas and current road closures in the City visit savannahga.gov/floodalerts.
Residents are reminded that when a traffic signal is out, the intersection should be treated as a 4-way stop.
As of 9:15 a.m., the City’s Transportation services are working on the following locations:
- MLK closed North of Bay St. at Indian, Low hanging cable. Ga. Power onsite
- Anderson at Bee, signal out; stops signs in place
- Ogeechee at Mills B. Lane, closed due to flooding
- Ogeechee at 42nd, not passable
- Victory from Hopkins, flooded but passable
- 37th at Jefferson, flooded
- Northbound Truman at Whitefield, power out
- Waters at Mall Blvd. Northbound, right lane-tree down
- White Bluff at Food Lion, signal out
- White Bluff at TV Circle, signal out
- White Bluff at Johnston, flooded & closed
- Mills B Lane at Ogeechee, flooded
- Westbound President St., reduced to one lane
- Skidaway between Montgomery Crossroads & Stadium, tree down
- Paulsen btw Park & Gwinnett, stalled car, water cleared
- Louisville at Blunt, tree down westbound travel lane blocked
Chatham County is currently under a Flood Warning, Tropical Storm Warning, Storm Surge Warning and Flood Watch. The current forecast anticipates 6-9 inches of rain with high tide at 10:53 p.m. A storm surge of 2-4 feet is forecasted with Tropical Storm force winds likely. The threat for potential cave-ins and sink holes remains elevated.
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