From staff, wire reports

As of Tuesday, County Commission Chairman Carter Infinger has declared a state of emergency for Bryan County due to Tropical Storm Helene, in line with the City of Richmond Hill, the City of Pembroke, and the state of Georgia.

According to the National Weather Service, Helene is projected to strengthen to a Category 3 hurricane before making landfall on the Florida Panhandle on Thursday evening, where the storm will then move up through Georgia. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect across coastal Georgia where most of Helene’s effects will be felt on Thursday evening.

Heavy rain and strong winds are expected throughout Bryan County as Helene moves inward just west of Macon up towards Atlanta on Thursday and Friday.

According to a release from Bryan County Schools, all schools will be released two hours early on Thursday, September 26. All “community education classes, afterschool programs, and extracurricular activities” have also been canceled in light of the storm. Homecoming festivities have also been rescheduled by Bryan County High School.

In Pembroke, city official Fernanda Camacho Hauser advises residents to follow the City’s Facebook page for timely updates regarding Helene.

Richmond Hill Mayor Russ Carpenter says that the City is treating Helene as a major storm, although the flooding threat is projected to be minimal in comparison to Tropical Storm Debby. First responders are on standby, and extra shifts are beginning Thursday, according to Carpenter. Bryan County Public Works are also on hand to respond to potential drainage issues, says Carpenter.

Free sandbags for Bryan County residents have been distributed since Tuesday afternoon at Fire Station #5 in Ellabell and Henderson Park in Richmond Hill, according to the Bryan County Fire and Emergency Services Facebook page.