With Hurricane Irma expected to make a pass through Northeast Georgia on Monday — as a tropical storm — officials are urging residents to be prepared for the worst.
Harris Blackwood, director of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, advised homeowners to secure any loose items around their properties, including lawn furniture, potted plants and decorations, by tying them down or pulling them into a garage or shed.
"A lawn chair, even a good sturdy one, can become a pretty good projectile at 50 mph," said Blackwood on WDUN's Home Grown show Saturday morning.
"You may have some decorative pots that aren't full of stuff. Just consider what 50 mph-plus will do."
Homeowners are also advised to trim any dead limbs off of their trees if possible, since Irma's winds will likely be bringing down limbs and power lines.
Irma could arrive as early as Monday morning, though it could start throwing rain into Northeast Georgia as early as Sunday evening, said David Kimbrell, Hall County Emergency Management director, at a briefing Friday afternoon.
Forecasters expect the wind to be the biggest danger, though rainfall totals are expected to be between two and five inches with localized flooding possible.
