Georgia governor declares State of Emergency ahead of severe weather
THIS IS WYFF NEWS FOUR TODAY. I THINK IT CAME TO US AS A SHOCK TO ALL OF US IN THE FINANCIAL AID COMMUNITY. A SHOCK HOW FEDERAL CUTS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WILL AFFECT THOSE SEEKING HIGHER EDUCATION. AND AFTER ACCUSING FOUR MEN OF SEX CRIMES, ONE MAN TAKING LEGAL ACTION AGAINST SOUTH CAROLINA REPRESENTATIVE NANCY MACE. GOOD MORNING. I’M PEYTON FURTADO. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US HERE ON YOUR SATURDAY MORNING. 701. LET’S TAKE A LOOK OUTSIDE. IT IS AN ALERT DAY RIGHT NOW. THIS IS WHAT OUR WEATHER LOOKS LIKE FROM THE PEACE CENTER. SKYCAM. THINGS LOOKING PRETTY CLEAR SO FAR. 58 TO WHAT WE’VE SEEN YET. HOLDING STEADY 58 DEGREES. NICE AND COOL. JUST ONE CAR ON THE ROAD RIGHT NOW. BUT THAT’S ALL GOING TO CHANGE VERY SOON. THAT’S ACCORDING TO SYDNEY SULLIVAN, WHO IS HERE WITH US IN THE STUDIO. SYDNEY IS TRACKING THE WEATHER ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST RIGHT NOW. AND HERE IN OUR AREA, SYDNEY. WHAT DO WE NEED TO KNOW? YES, IT IS GOING TO BE A VERY IMPACTFUL WEEKEND FOR THE SOUTH IN GENERAL, BUT FOR US, WE’RE GOING TO MAINLY SEE THOSE IMPACTS TONIGHT INTO TOMORROW MORNING. SO TAKE A LOOK AT THE TORNADO THREAT STRETCHING AS FAR WESTWARD AS PARTS OF LOUISIANA INTO MISSISSIPPI, ALABAMA, TENNESSEE, GEORGIA AND THE CAROLINAS. NOW FOR US HERE AT HOME, WE ARE UNDER THE HIGH RISK FOR FOR TORNADO THREATS. NOW, THIS IS MAINLY FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA AND INTO THE FAR WESTERN PART OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. BUT YOU CAN SEE EVEN AREAS FURTHER EAST OF THAT STILL UNDER THAT MEDIUM THREAT. SO MEDIUM TO HIGH TORNADO THREATS POSSIBLE FOR US. NOW, THIS IS THROUGH TOMORROW MORNING. SO OUR MAIN TIMELINE IS REALLY GOING TO BE FROM ABOUT 2 A.M. THROUGH ABOUT SEVEN, 8:00 IN THE MORNING TOMORROW. SO WE’LL START TO SEE THOSE WINDS PICK ON UP TODAY. BUT ESPECIALLY INTO TONIGHT. HIGH WINDS ARE GOING TO BE OUR BIGGEST THREAT. TORNADOES CANNOT BE RULED OUT AS WELL. SO WE’LL BE WATCHING THOSE VERY CLOSELY. THIS DOES LOOK TO BE A VERY IMPACTFUL SYSTEM ALL ACROSS THE SOUTH, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR FRIENDS FURTHER SOUTHWEST OF US. NOW TAKE A LOOK AT OUR LIVE SUPER DOPPLER FOUR. WE’RE DRY FOR THE TIME BEING. CLOUDS STARTING TO WORK ON IN ALREADY STARTING TO SEE VERY STRONG STORMS AND A LOT OF LIGHTNING ASSOCIATED WITH THE INITIAL ROUND OF THE STORM SYSTEM THROUGH PARTS OF ALABAMA AND INTO TENNESSEE. THIS WILL START TO GROW INTO A MUCH LARGER STORM SYSTEM AS THE DAY DOES DEVELOP HERE AT HOME. FOR THE TIME BEING, THOUGH, ALL IS CALM AND QUIET WITH TEMPERATURES FAIRLY MILD SITTING IN THE 50S, EVEN THE UPPER 50S IN MANY LOCATIONS THIS MORNING, SO CERTAINLY DON’T NEED A HEAVY JACKET HEADING OUT THE DOOR FOR NOW. BUT AS WE MOVE THROUGHOUT THE DAY, THERE WILL BE THAT POSSIBILITY OF SEEING AN ISOLATED SHOWER OR TWO, BUT ESPECIALLY TONIGHT INTO TOMORROW. THAT’S WHEN OUR IMPACTS REALLY START TO RAMP ON UP. SO COMING UP, I’LL HAVE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE LATEST TIMING OF THE STORMS. AND WHEN THINGS BEGIN TO SETTLE ON DOWN. PEYTON, THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE’RE KEEPING UP WITH SOME BREAKING NEWS IN RUTHERFORD COUNTY, WHERE A FLORIDA MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED AFTER ALLEGEDLY MAKING SOME BOMB THREATS AT A LOWE’S AND A WALMART IN FORREST CITY. BUSINESSES HAD TO BE EVACUATED OVER THERE. POLICE SAY CHARLES PARIS WAS ARRESTED YESTERDAY BY FLORIDA AUTHORITIES AND AN ASHEVILLE DEPUTIES SAY ONE PERSON HAS BEEN ARRESTED. ANOTHER IS WANTED AFTER A MAN WAS STABBED IN THE HEAD. WE’RE TOLD DIONNE MCILVAIN IS BEHIND BARS ON A $100,000 BOND, CHARGED WITH ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON, WITH INTENT TO KILL, POLICE SAY SHERRY SUTTON FACES THAT SAME CHARGE BUT IS STILL AT LARGE. THE STABBING HAPPENED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON ON PATTON AVENUE. OFFICERS SAY WHEN THEY GOT TO THAT SCENE, THEY FOUND THE VICTIM WITH A KNIFE STICKING OUT OF HIS HEAD. AT LAST CHECK, HE WAS IN CRITICAL CONDITION. POLICE SAY IF YOU KNOW WHERE SUTTON IS, CALL THEM IMMEDIATELY. AND TWO PEOPLE DIED AFTER A SMALL PLANE CRASHED IN GREENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, YESTERDAY. THAT CRASH HAPPENED NEAR THE PITT-GREENVILLE AIRPORT. A NEARBY HIGHWAY HAD TO BE SHUT DOWN FOR A FEW HOURS. IT’S SINCE REOPENED. ACCORDING TO FLIGHT RECORDS, THE BEECHCRAFT BONANZA CRASHED MOMENTS AFTER IT TOOK OFF FROM THE AIRPORT. THE FLIGHT WAS HEADED TO VERO BEACH, FLORIDA. THE NTSB AND FAA BOTH INVESTIGATING THIS AND NORTH CAROLINA’S REPRESENTATIVE, CHUCK EDWARDS, SHARED HIS THOUGHTS YESTERDAY ABOUT AN UNRULY TOWN HALL MEETING. EDWARDS SAYS HE WAS EXCITED FOR THE BIG TURNOUT IN ASHEVILLE THURSDAY NIGHT. HOWEVER, HE SAYS ONE PERSON HAD TO BE REMOVED FROM THE EVENT FOR USING VULGAR LANGUAGE. EDWARDS SAYS HE KNEW THERE WOULD BE PEOPLE WHO WOULD DISAGREE WITH WHAT HE AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ARE DOING. HE SAYS DESPITE ADVICE FROM THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE TO AVOID HOLDING TOWN HALLS, HE DECIDED TO GO THROUGH WITH IT. SAYING HE’S ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE HE REPRESENTS. I HAD RATHER US HAVE HAD A BIT MORE OF A CIVIL CONVERSATION, A LITTLE BIT MORE BACK AND FORTH. SO I WAS JUST I WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT IT COULDN’T GO THAT WAY. I THINK THESE ARE IMPORTANT TIMES. EDWARDS SAYS THURSDAY’S EVENTS WILL NOT STOP HIM FROM HOSTING ANOTHER TOWN HALL SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 25TH IN SOUTH CAROLINA. REPRESENTATIVE NANCY MACE IS NOW FACING A DEFAMATION LAWSUIT AFTER SHE ACCUSED FOUR MEN OF COMMITTING SEX CRIMES IN A SPEECH ON THE HOUSE FLOOR LAST MONTH. THE LAWYERS FOR ONE OF THOSE MEN, BRIAN MUSGRAVE, ANNOUNCED THE COMPLAINT YESTERDAY. THEY SAY MACE WAS ASKED TO RETRACT HER ALLEGATIONS AGAINST MUSGRAVE AND ISSUED AN APOLOGY AND OR PRODUCE ANY EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT HER CLAIMS. THE LAWYERS SAY SHE HASN’T DONE SO. THAT’S WHY THEY FILED THIS LAWSUIT. REPRESENTATIVE MACE HAS NOT RESPONDED TO THE FILING.
Georgia governor declares State of Emergency ahead of severe weather
Updated: 1:03 PM EDT Mar 15, 2025
On Saturday, the governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp, declared a State of Emergency due to a significant severe weather event that is making its way into the area late Saturday night through Sunday morning. Governor Kemp declared a statewide State of Emergency, effective at noon Saturday, in preparation for the severe and potentially damaging weather front moving into Georgia tonight. The State of Emergency executive order authorizes the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) to activate the State Operations Center (SOC) and mobilize any needed resources to address potential impacts. Crews will also be on standby to respond to damage and power outages. The State of Emergency will expire at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18.”This storm will hit at the worst possible time, as people are heading to or already in bed. Before they retire for the evening, I’m urging everyone to be prepared ahead of time and to remain weather aware as long as this system is in the state,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “Given the uncertainty of this storm and the fact it will move through Georgia overnight, individuals and families should prepare now and make plans to stay safe. Just as we’ve made all necessary preparations on the state level ahead of the system’s arrival, Georgians should get ready now and not wait until the storm is already here.”Among other provisions, the State of Emergency order prohibits price gouging. Access the full State of Emergency Executive Order here.
ATLANTA —On Saturday, the governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp, declared a State of Emergency due to a significant severe weather event that is making its way into the area late Saturday night through Sunday morning.
Governor Kemp declared a statewide State of Emergency, effective at noon Saturday, in preparation for the severe and potentially damaging weather front moving into Georgia tonight.
The State of Emergency executive order authorizes the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) to activate the State Operations Center (SOC) and mobilize any needed resources to address potential impacts. Crews will also be on standby to respond to damage and power outages. The State of Emergency will expire at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18.
“This storm will hit at the worst possible time, as people are heading to or already in bed. Before they retire for the evening, I’m urging everyone to be prepared ahead of time and to remain weather aware as long as this system is in the state,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “Given the uncertainty of this storm and the fact it will move through Georgia overnight, individuals and families should prepare now and make plans to stay safe. Just as we’ve made all necessary preparations on the state level ahead of the system’s arrival, Georgians should get ready now and not wait until the storm is already here.”
Among other provisions, the State of Emergency order prohibits price gouging. Access the full State of Emergency Executive Order here.
