The City of Milton is actively mobilizing in preparation for Helene – the tropical system barreling northward toward our area – and encouraging our citizens to do the same.

Between 6 to 10 inches of rain is now expected to fall through midday Friday in the metro Atlanta area, including Milton. In addition, our community could be hit with sustained winds as strong as 60 mph and gusts up to 80 mph. This is a slightly less favorable forecast than the previous day as the storm’s track has veered slightly westward, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (which includes the National Hurricane Center and National Weather Service). The worst should occur Thursday night through Friday morning.

If those conditions hold – and certainly if they worsen – all parts of Milton should be significantly impacted. This may include trees that fall on buildings and roadways, resulting in road closures and traffic congestion. Utility lines could be affected, leading to significant power outages. And heavy, sustained rains could produce flash floods and make driving especially dangerous.

Knowing the importance of planning and being proactive, the City is doing what it can to mitigate damage and respond as quickly and effectively as possible. There have been regular meetings to ensure the most effective coordination between all departments including Fire, Police, Public Works, and Parks and Recreation. Schedules have been adjusted to allow for extra staffing (with more on-call), with Fire Corps volunteers ready to assist as well.

City team members fanned out Wednesday, even after rain had begun falling, to act. This included clearing drains and roadways as best they can. Loose items like chairs, athletic goals, and other such items have been safely stashed away so they won’t be damaged or become flying projectiles. Staff have also begun charging radios and staging resources like vehicles, equipment to help clear roads, and generators at strategic locations all around Milton.

The City is also urging citizens to take precautions of their own, such as:

• Putting away lawn furniture, grills, gardening pots, trash cans, and whatever else could be picked up and thrown by the wind
• Clearing gutters and drains, including those along your road so runoff has somewhere to go
• Stocking up on food, water, medicine, first aid items, and other essentials
• Being ready if the power goes out, including what to eat, a way to charge your phone, and getting your vehicle out of your garage
• Checking trees for signs of damage and, if you can, trim or remove whatever might fall on your home
• Having an emergency plan and a “go kit” – and make sure your loved ones do as well
• Knowing that if you drive toward a flooded roadway, you should turn around rather than try to power through it

The City will also work to keep people up-to-date on its social media especially its Facebook page in the coming days. People can also stay informed by signing up for text notifications on things like road closures at www.miltonga.gov/Notifications.