U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and David Perdue, R-Ga., urged more Georgians to take safety precautions and remain vigilant as Governor Nathan Deal expanded the emergency declaration today to cover 108 Georgia counties after Hurricane Michael was upgraded to a Category 4 storm.
 
Based on the latest forecast for Hurricane Michael and acting on a recommendation from Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency officials, Gov. Nathan Deal today upgraded the state’s prior emergency declaration to cover 16 additional Georgia counties. The emergency declaration is effective for seven days and makes all state resources available to local governments and entities within the impacted area of the hurricane.
 
Deal also announced the activation of 1,500 Georgia National Guard troops to be placed on standby and deployed as needed to affected areas.
 
The 108 counties under emergency declaration are: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Baker, Baldwin, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bibb, Bleckley, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Butts, Calhoun, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Chattahoochee, Clay, Clarke, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Crawford, Crisp, Decatur, Dodge, Dooly, Dougherty, Early, Echols, Effingham, Elbert, Emanuel, Evans, Glascock, Glynn, Grady, Greene, Hancock, Houston, Irwin, Jasper, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Jones, Lamar, Lanier, Laurens, Lee, Liberty, Lincoln, Long, Lowndes, Macon, Marion, McDuffie, McIntosh, Miller, Mitchell, Monroe, Morgan, Montgomery, Muscogee, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Peach, Pierce, Pulaski, Putnam, Quitman, Randolph, Richmond, Schley, Screven, Seminole, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taliaferro, Tattnall, Taylor, Telfair, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Turner, Twiggs, Upson, Ware, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Wheeler, Wilcox, Wilkes, Wilkinson and Worth counties.
 
“We are praying for Georgia and our neighboring states as Hurricane Michael makes impact,” said Isakson “Governor Deal, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and our first responders, businesses and communities are taking precautions. We urge all Georgians to remain vigilant and heed officials’ advice as the storm makes landfall and progresses northward. We remain in close communication with Governor Deal, and Senator Perdue and I will work together in the Senate and do all we can to support preparedness, response and recovery efforts.”
 
“Hurricane Michael is a potentially deadly storm that could impact many Georgians, including our agriculture community,” said Perdue. “Governor Deal, the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, and local authorities are preparing for the storm and will keep Georgians updated as the situation develops. To ensure everyone’s safety, including the safety of our first responders, please take this storm seriously and heed all advice from local, state, and federal officials.”