Georgia DOT Responds to Debby

The Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) is working through Tropical Storm Debby as it makes its way across southern and coastal Georgia. Crews in Georgia DOT’s districts 4, 5 and 2 worked overnight and continue to respond to incidents of downed trees, flooding, and blocked roads to ensure routes are passable and safe for motorists. Coordination with local first responders and utility companies to clear debris and downed power lines from roadways is underway. Georgia DOT crews continue to ride routes throughout the affected areas checking for road and bridge conditions, and clearing or closing routes as necessary. Motorists can expect detours and road closures as the department responds to the impacts of the storm. Priority is placed on interstates, then state routes with highest priority given to routes to hospitals and other essential public services.

The traveling public’s safety is a top priority as department responds to incidents. Georgia DOT is working to update wayfinding apps including Google Maps and Waze with road closures but motorists are advised to avoid non-essential travel as roads may still be impacted by debris and could be impassable. Consult 511GA for the most up-to-date road conditions across Georgia. If you must travel and encounter a Georgia DOT vehicle or crew out on the roadways, please give them the space to accomplish their critically important tasks safely.

Motorists are reminded to remain cognizant of standing or rushing water and to respond appropriately to road conditions that could change quickly. Please remember that when heavy rainfall occurs in a very short amount of time, water on roadways – even with storm drains that function well under normal rainfall – can rise temporarily similarly to creeks and rivers. Motorists should take caution and be prepared to turn aroundi when encountering water in the roadway. Vehicles can get swept away by as little as twelve inches of moving water.

Hurricane Safety Tips

As the impact of Tropical Storm Debby is still being felt through Georgia, motorists are reminded to be cautious of strong winds, flooding, downed power lines and the potential for falling trees. Avoid non-essential travel as much as possible and monitor real-time road conditions using the 511GA app.
– Call 511 to report flash flooding, downed trees or other obstructions that impede travel on roadways or bridges
– Do not drive around barricades that are in place for motorist safety or through standing water
– Residents should never clear tree limbs, downed trees or debris from roadways, live power lines could be tangled in debris and can cause injury or death; instead, wait for Georgia DOT and Georgia Power crews
– Motorists who must drive should always treat flashing red and non-operational signals as a four-way stop

For more hurricane safety tips, please visit Georgia DOT’s hurricane webpage.

For real-time road conditions, call 511 or click on (www.511ga.org). For weather information, visit the National Weather Service in Peachtree City, Georgia (https://www.weather.gov/ffc/).

Georgia Department of Transportation plans, constructs and maintains Georgia’s state and federal highways. We are involved in bridge, waterway, public transit, rail, general aviation, bike and pedestrian programs. And we help local governments maintain their roads. Georgia DOT and it’s nearly 4,000 employees are committed to delivering a transportation system focused on innovations, safety, sustainability and mobility. The Department’s vision is to boost Georgia’s competitiveness through leadership in transportation.