User:12george1/Effects of Hurricane Irma in Georgia

The effects of Hurricane Irma in Georgia were experienced across the entire state. Hurricane Irma developed from a tropical wave near Cape Verde on August 30. The storm quickly became a hurricane on August 31 and then a major hurricane shortly thereafter, but fluctuated in intensity during the next few days. By September 4, Irma resumed strengthening, becoming a powerful Category 5 hurricane on the following day. The cyclone struck Sint Maarten and the British Virgin Islands on September 6 and later crossed Little Inagua in the Bahamas on September 8. Irma briefly weakened to a Category 4, but re-intensified into a Category 5 hurricane before making landfall in the Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago of Cuba. After land interaction weakened it to a Category 3, the storm re-strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane in the Straits of Florida. Irma struck Florida twice on September 10 – the first as a Category 4 at Cudjoe Key and the second on Marco Island as a Category 3. The hurricane weakened quickly, falling to tropical storm intensity before reaching Georgia on September 11. Irma further weakened to a tropical depression prior to crossing into Alabama later that day.

Although Irma had weakened significantly before reaching Georgia, the cyclone's large wind field resulted in sustained winds of 30 to 45 mph across much of the state, while wind gusts of 50 to 65 mph were common. The winds downed thousands of trees and left approximately 1.5 million people without electricity. Heavy rainfall was reported, especially in the southeastern portions of the state, though flooding was generally minor due to drought conditions preceding Irma. Storm surge reached 12.24 ft above mean low water at the Fort Pulaski National Monument. Coastal flooding occurred along the Sea Islands and areas near the coast, especially in Chatham County. Damage in the state reached more than $670 million (2017 USD). Four fatalities were reported.

Background
A tropical wave emerged into the Atlantic Ocean from the west coast of Africa on August 27. After three days, the system organized into a tropical cyclone to the west of the Cape Verde Islands. Initially classified as a tropical storm, Irma quickly intensified under favorable environmental conditions such as warm sea surface temperatures and low wind shear, becoming a hurricane on August 31. Later that day, the storm reached major hurricane status, becoming a Category 3 hurricane. However, Irma oscillated in intensity over the next few days due to drier air. By September 4, Irma resumed strengthening, becoming a powerful Category 5 hurricane with 185 mph (295 km/h) – and the most intense tropical cyclone over the open Atlantic – on the following day. The hurricane then struck Sint Maarten and the British Virgin Islands on September 6 and later crossed Little Inagua in the Bahamas on September 8.

Irma briefly weakened to a Category 4, but re-intensified into a Category 5 hurricane before making landfall in the Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago of Cuba. After falling to Category 3 status due to land interaction, the storm re-strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane in the Straits of Florida. On September 10, Irma made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane. The hurricane weakened significantly over Florida and was reduced to a tropical storm before exiting the state into Georgia on September 11. By this point Irma had begun transitioning into an extratropical cyclone, with most of the convection displaced from the center and spread over multiple states. It weakened to a tropical depression prior to crossing into the state of Georgia late on September 11.

Impact
About 30% of pecan crops were lost in Georgia, which is the largest producer of pecans in the United States. Cotton, also a valuable crop in the state, suffered a loss of at least 20%. The storm left about $670 million in damage to insured properties alone.

Southwest Georgia
Nearly 80% of customers of Colquitt EMC, an electrical company covering much of Southwest Georgia, lost electricity. In Seminole County, total damage to buildings, homes, power lines, and trees reached $150,000. The storm downed trees and power lines throughout Decatur County with at least one highway blocked. Metal roofs at a business and a school in Bainbridge were severely damaged. More than 225 power lines and trees were knocked over in Grady County. Seven or eight homes suffered minor damage after trees fell on them. Approximately 11,000 people lost electricity. In Thomas County, several traffic lights were out of commission. About 750 people lost power after trees struck power lines, including about 7,300 in Thomasville. Fourteen streets in the city were blocked by falling trees. Wind gusts reached 51 mph in Thomasville. Outside the city, at least 57 trees were uprooted, with some landing on houses.

Many trees were downed throughout Brooks County. Several residences sustained damage, with two having extensive damage. Rainfall washed out several roads. Thousands of power outages were reported, which took up to five days to restore. In Lowndes County, a wind gust of 62 mph was observed at the Moody Air Force Base near Valdosta. The storm downed over 500 trees, with about three dozen falling onto buildings. Approximately 60,000 electrical customers lost power. Following the storm, about 25000 cuyd of vegetative debris was collected. Property damage was estimated at $9 million. Additionally, damage pecan trees reached about $12.5 million, with over 5,000 pecan trees destroyed.

In Lanier County, a number of power lines and trees were knocked over, some of which were large oak trees. A total of five trees fell onto homes. The storm downed several trees and caused power outages in Berrien County. Two homes in Nashville suffered extensive roof damage after being hit by trees. Wind gusts in Cook County reached 53 mph near Adel, causing many trees and power lines to fall. As a result, there were 26 road closures and damage to about 15 homes. About 200 trees and many power lines were toppled in Colquitt County, leading to the closures of several roads. Some homes and a car were damaged by falling trees. About 50% of Moultrie was left without electricity. The Moultrie Municipal Airport recorded a wind gust of 54 mph. City crews collected about 129 tons of vegetative debris in the first two days following the storm. Hundreds of trees and power lines fell over in Mitchell County, with about 200 landing on roadways. Little property damage occurred, though there may have been significant damage to cottons and pecans. In Miller County, a number of trees and power lines collapsed. A home and a barn were damaged by a fire that started after a power line fell, while five other homes were damaged by falling trees. Approximately 1,800 people in Miller County lost power.

Wind gusts in Early County peaked at 63 mph at the headquarters of the county's emergency management agency. Between 50 and 60 electrical customers in Blakely lost power. Fallen trees blocked several roads in the town. Numerous trees and power lines fell in Calhoun County. About 250 customers were left without electricity. Winds or falling trees damaged 10 homes, while a business in Arlington was deroofed. There were widespread reports of downed trees and power lines in Dougherty County, particularly in Albany. As a result, thousands of residents in the city lost electricity and dozens of traffic lights were out. A large tree was uprooted at a duplex, damaging the roof of the dwelling and a fence. Insured damages alone in Dougherty County reached just under $3.15 million. In Worth County, sustained winds reached 42 mph and gusts peaked at 70 mph, with both observed at the county's emergency management agency office. Many trees and power lines fell, including some large oak trees, causing damage to roofs and vehicles. One death occurred due to a heart attack. Insured losses in Worth County reached about $737,000.

Wind gusts in Tift County peaked at 51 mph at the Henry Tift Myers Airport in Tifton. A number of trees and power lines were toppled, blocking several roads, including U.S. Route 19. By early October, 553 tons of vegetative debris were collected in Tift County. In Irwin County, many trees and power lines fell, with eight homes receiving minor damage after being struck by trees. Similarly, many trees and power lines were downed in Turner County. Additionally, several homes were deroofed and several barns were destroyed. Fallen trees and power lines in Lee County blocked 21 roads, including five state highways and U.S. Route 19. Several trees also struck mobile homes. Smithville was left without potable water for two days. Overall, 3 businesses and 45 homes were damaged to some degree, with 7 dwellings suffering major damage. In Terrell County, several homes were damaged by falling trees, including one home extensively damaged by a large pecan tree. A number of trees and power lines were downed in Randolph County. About 40% of the county lost electricity. A fire started at a two story house after a tree fell on a power line and then on the home. In Quitman County, winds downed several trees and power lines. Damage in the county was light, reaching about $15,000.

Coastal and Southeast Georgia
Along the coast of Camden County, storm surge peaked at 3.13 ft at the Cumberland Island National Seashore, with the tidal gauge reaching 6.48 ft. The strongest wind speed in the county was a gust of 56 mph about 2 mi south-southeast of Kingsland. Rainfall peaked at 6.84 in roughly 3 mi west-southwest of Kingsland. On the island, tides eroded away about 100 to 200 ft of sand. Trails were flooded and trees were downed sporadically. In St. Marys, the departure ferry docks to the Cumberland Island National Seashore were destroyed, resulting in the closure of the park. Additionally, about 40 boats sank in the vicinity of the docks. The St. Marys River flooded businesses and homes near the river. Tropical storm force winds damaged some trees and power lines in the city. Farther inland, rainfall produced by the storm caused the Satilla River to crest at 6.85 ft at Woodbine, which was major flood stage. In Kingsland, several subdivisions were flooded, including 48 out of 51 homes at one subdivision.

Along the coast of Glynn County, a tidal gauge at a pier on St. Simons Island crested at 6.9 ft. Sustained winds in the county peaked at 58 mph and gusts reached 77 mph, both of which were observed on Jekyll Island. These were the highest sustained wind speed and the strongest wind gust recorded in the state, respectively. In McIntosh County, sustained winds peaked at 49 mph and gusts reached 72 mph. Strong winds toppled a number of trees and power lines across the county, blocking several roads, including state routes 17, 57, 99, and 251. About 98% of the county was left without electricity. At least five homes were destroyed. Rainfall peaked at 7.53 in on Sapelo Island. Several homes and buildings were flooded with water up to their first story windows. Storm surge left extensive inundation on the barrier islands and coastal areas, with a new island created after erosion split off a small part of southern Blackbeard Island. In Chatham County, sustained winds peaked at 49 mph at a Weatherflow station on Tybee Island, while wind gusts reached 70 mph at a tide gauge at the Fort Pulaski National Monument. A storm surge height of 5.63 ft was observed at the Fort Pulaski National Monument. Precipitation in the county peaked at 6.47 in at the Hunter Army Airfield. Flooding from rainfall forced the rescue of eleven people and two dogs from a home in Montgomery. Almost 75,000 customers lost electricity, which was more than 50% of Georgia Power's subscribers in the county. More than 1,650 homes were damaged to some degree, with over 900 of them impacted by storm surge flooding. Of the homes effected, 7 were destroyed, 369 suffered major damage, and 445 suffered minor damage. Overall, damage in Chatham County was estimated at $20 million.

Coastal portions of Chatham County were inundated with 1.2 to 5.25 ft of water above the ground, resulting in several rescues as people became trapped in their homes. Tybee Island suffered the worst storm surge-related damage. U.S. Route 80 between Tybee Island and Savannah was closed due to coastal flooding. Water entered several homes on the island. Nearly all of the dune lines were washed away at the beaches, while about 6 to 10 ft of dune escarpments were eroded away. Homes were also flooded on Burnside Island and Dutch Island. At the Fort Pulaski National Monument, the visitor center was flooded, while approximately 17 in of water entered another park facility. In Savannah, storm surge from the Savannah River inundated River Street, but did not enter any buildings.

The storm produced sustained winds of 42 mph and wind gusts up to 57 mph in Effingham County. Rainfall peaked at 7.86 in about 5 mi north-northeast of Rincon. About 14,000 households lost electricity. Downed trees and power lines blocked a few roads. Winds caused roof damage to a church in Clyo, while several homes were damaged by a falling trees, with at least one suffering major damage. Total damage in Effingham County was estimated at $300,000.