Mandatory evacuation map of coastal Georgia.

Mandatory evacuation map of coastal Georgia. / Georgia Emergency Management & Homeland Security Agency

UPDATED 10/6/16 6:24 p.m.

This a message from the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency. The governor has expanded the State of Emergency to 30 counties. 

State officials are declaring mandatory evacuations for all residents east of I-95. This includes the following counties: Chatham, Bryan, Liberty,  McIntosh, Glynn and Camden.  This mandatory evacuation is particularly important for residents living on barrier islands and in low lying areas. The additional 24 counties that are part of the State of Emergency are all under voluntary evacuation.

 

To facilitate these evacuations – the state has implemented contra-flow on I-16.  That means I-16’s eastbound lanes are now reversed and flowing westbound only from Savannah to U-S 441 in Dublin.  That’s a 123 mile stretch of interstate.  Motorists can cross over on paved medians on I-16 east of I-95 and on I-16 at State Route 26 in Laurens County.

 

Contraflow means I-16 eastbound lanes will reverse to westbound traffic only from Savannah to US 441 in Dublin. That’s a 123 mile stretch of interstate.

 

If you are traveling in the St. Marys/Brunswick area … to move inland, take State Route 520/ U.S. 82 west to I-75 north. 

For coastal Georgia areas, take westerly evacuation routes such as:

 

  • State Route 32 West OR State Route 520 West to I-75 North

OR

  • US 341 to McRae and then take US 441 North to I-16.

 

For regions including Clinch, Ware, Pierce, Atkinson,  and Bacon counties:

 

  • Take State Route 520/U-S 82 west or State Route 32 west to I-75 North.

 

For Lowndes and Brooks counties: take I-75 north

For Colquitt, Tift and Turner counties:  Take State Route 520 west to I-75 north.

To avoid heavy traffic in the Macon area -- use I-16 west to I-75 south to I-475

 For more information, visit http://gemhsa.ga.gov/

  

There are currently eleven RED CROSS shelters open in Georgia.  And another scheduled to open tonight at 7.  They are:

 

In Valdosta – Park Avenue United Methodist Church

 

In Moultrie – First Baptist Church

 

In Macon – Hephzibah Children’s Home…  the North Macon Community Center (which is pet-friendly) and East Macon Recreation Center (3326 Ocmulgee East Boulevard)  will open at 7:00 p.m.

 

In Tifton – Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (2802 Moore Hwy)

 

In Dublin – Dublin High School

 

In Byron – Byron Fire Station #1 (6711 Peach Parkway Highway 49)

 

In Fort Valley – Peach County Fire Station #6

 

In Swainsboro – Swainsboro Recreation Center

 

In Augusta – Trinity on the Hill United Methodist Church

 

In Dexter – West Laurens High School

If you’re looking for hotel reservation assistance you can call 1-800-Visit- GA. That’s 1-800-847-4842.   Hotel rooms along interstates I-95 and I-75 are scarce and there may be shortages on I-16 and I-20 as well. 

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