Chattooga County Commissioner Andy Allen has declared a local State of Emergency for Chattooga County as the county prepares for potentially dangerous weather associated with Hurricane Isaias.

Allen signed the executive order Friday, October 9, activating the Chattooga County Emergency Management Agency’s Local Emergency Operations Plan and putting the county’s emergency management ordinances into effect.

The declaration comes as forecasters warn that Hurricane Isaias could bring damaging winds, heavy rainfall, flash flooding and possible tornadoes to Northwest Georgia through the weekend.

According to the executive order, wind gusts of 40 to 50 miles per hour are possible across western Georgia, with strong winds potentially bringing down trees and power lines.

Widespread Power Outages Are A Major Concern

Chattooga County Emergency Management Agency Director Pamela Vaughn says the primary concern locally is strong winds that could cause downed trees and widespread power outages.

Residents are being encouraged to prepare for electrical outages that could last several hours or longer, depending on storm damage.

Families should have adequate food, drinking water, flashlights, batteries and other emergency supplies available before dangerous weather arrives.

Vaughn says county road crews are preparing to respond to fallen trees and debris that could block roadways.

Information about blocked roads, closures and hazardous travel conditions will be distributed through local news media and the Chattooga County EMA E911 Facebook page.

No Emergency Shelters Opening Before The Storm

County emergency management officials say no emergency shelters will be opened ahead of the storm.

Residents should make arrangements to shelter safely at home or identify another safe location if their residence is vulnerable to high winds.

Anyone living in a mobile home or other structure that may not withstand severe winds should have a plan to seek shelter in a sturdier building if dangerous conditions develop.

Residents Asked Not To Call 911 For Power Outages

Emergency management officials are reminding residents that 911 should be reserved for emergencies.

Do not call 911 simply to report a power outage. Instead, residents should contact their electric utility provider directly to report the outage and provide their account information.

Residents should call 911 if an outage creates a life-threatening emergency.

The county also asks motorists to avoid unnecessary travel during periods of high winds and heavy rainfall, particularly where fallen trees, downed power lines or flooding could make roads hazardous.

Sign Up For Emergency Weather Alerts

Chattooga County residents are encouraged to register for the county’s HyperReach emergency notification system.

The service allows residents to receive emergency messages about severe weather, water issues and other critical situations.

Residents can choose to receive notifications by telephone call, text message or email and select the types of weather alerts they wish to receive.

Registration is available at:

https://signup.hyper-reach.com/hyper_reach/sign_up_page_2/?id=97162

Additional information about creating a family emergency plan is available through the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency’s Ready Georgia program at gema.georgia.gov/plan-prepare/ready-georgia.

Emergency Officials Monitoring Storm Conditions

Vaughn says Chattooga County EMA will continue monitoring updates from the National Weather Service and distributing information as conditions change.

The county’s emergency declaration notes that the combination of strong winds, possible tornadoes and heavy rainfall could create dangerous conditions even in areas away from the center of Hurricane Isaias.

Residents are urged to take precautions, stay informed and prepare for possible disruptions to electrical service and travel throughout the weekend.

Sources: Chattooga County Commissioner Andy Allen’s October 9, 2026, Local State of Emergency Executive Order; Chattooga County EMA Director Pamela Vaughn’s October 9 emergency preparedness announcement.