ATLANTA — Channel 2 Action News got exclusive access with Georgia Power crews ready to respond to the storm.
Channel 2 crews captured trucks headed south on I-75.
At last check, nearly 700,000 people are without power in South Florida.
Our live Severe Weather Team 2 coverage continues with Channel 2′s Elizabeth Rawlins, and how Georgia Power crews will keep the lights on here in Georgia.
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Even if there is minimal impact to the metro Atlanta area, they will still have a direct role in the recovery efforts in south Georgia and along the coast.
Georgia Power has officially opened up its storm center, where crews are keeping a close watch on power outages across the state.
“We are in the storm center in Atlanta which is really the hub for our storm response across the state,” Jacob Hawkins, Georgia Power spokesperson, said.
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Thousands of people in Florida are already in the dark, and officials in Georgia expect that heavy rain and wind will have an impact on customers in south Georgia and along the coast.
“We are in touch with all of our teams there. They are doing their own preparations,” Rawlins said.
Channel 2 got exclusive access to the Georgia Power social media center, which plays a key role during response and recovery efforts.
“We want to make sure that we are sharing any of the messages. Sharing support with mutual assistance, to let everyone know that we are prepared,” Brandi Peterson, digital content lead, said.
Right now, the overall impact of the storm is still unknown, but they have nearly 7,000 crews around the state who are prepared to respond.
“We’ve got transformers, wires, poles, and people where they need to be. Even if the storm shifts, we want to be able to pivot so that we can be where we need to be,” Hawkins said.
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Meanwhile, they are recommending that everyone be prepared ahead of the storm.
Charge your cellphone, turn your air conditioning down, and keep your doors and windows closed.
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