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Ivan approaches

As Hurricane Ivan made its way through Alabama Thursday morning, wreaking destruction with high winds and rain, it was difficult to gauge what impact the storm would have on the south metro area, emergency officials said.

On Wednesday, officials in neighboring Coweta and Fayette counties cancelled classes, but Fulton officials kept schools open.

The Atlanta/Fulton County Emergency Operations Center opened at 11 a.m. Thursday to respond to the effects of Hurricane Ivan.

The storm will arrive in Georgia as a tropical depression carrying heavy rains, according to EMA Director Jim Cook.

“We expect winds to present a lesser threat while rainfall amounts may total as much as seven to eight inches,” said Cook. He warns residents to watch for flash flooding and to avoid driving through standing water to prevent vehicles from being carried away by flooding. Cook also urges citizens to look for trash or debris in the roadway and remove it to prevent blockage of storm drains.

City of Atlanta and Fulton County representatives from law enforcement, fire services, public works, utilities, social services and watershed management will work during the 24-hour-a-day EOC operation. They will coordinate City and County emergency services to ensure quick and efficient responses to weather-related damage or dangerous conditions such as downed power lines.

The Emergency Operations Center will remain open until the weather threat has passed and workers complete cleanup.

For more information, contact Jim Cook in the Emergency Operation Center at 404-730-5600.

The entire county is under a flood watch at least until this morning, along with many other Georgia counties in Ivan’s path.

The general expectation was the region could get up to six inches of rain once all is said and done, with the likelihood that most of that rain will come today, said Capt. Pete Nelms of the Fayette County Department of Fire and Emergency Services.

Even if Ivan barely nicks Fayette, danger still lurks because of the possibility of tornados, which often form on the edge of hurricane storm systems, Nelms said. About four or five tornados touched down overnight in the extreme southwest corner of Georgia, he noted.

“They can do an extreme amount of damage,” Nelms said.

The National Weather Service in Peachtree City was predicting rains to begin Thursday afternoon with winds between 20-30 mph and gusting up to 50 mph at times, said Gerald Birdow, weather service specialist.

Today, the rain was expected to be heaviest in the morning, tapering off in the afternoon and evening as Ivan keeps moving, Birdow added.

The situation is being monitored very closely by local officials, Nelms said.

Nelms said emergency officials had consulted with the school system Wednesday before the decision was made to close schools Thursday so students wouldn’t have to be sent home in rough conditions.

“You’re taking nearly 30,000 people and trying to get them to basically 28 different destinations at one time,” Nelms said.

Nelms noted that the fire department has a good working relationship with the school system.

“They are an important partner for us and we work together very well,” Nelms said.