Gas prices on the rise
Monday, September 30, 2024–10:20 a.m. -AAA South- Georgia gas prices rose last week, but remain under $3.00 a gallon. The average of $2.97 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline is 3 cents more than a week ago, but 19 cents less than a month ago, and 29 cents less than last year. It costs drivers an average price of $44.55 to…
Sen. Ossoff announces Bipartisan Infrastructure Law grant opportunity to protect families from hazardous materials
Sunday, September 29, 2024–7:18 p.m. -News Release- U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff has announced Federal grant funding is available through the bipartisan infrastructure law to help protect Georgia families from hazardous materials. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Brownfield Cleanup Grants program, made possible by the bipartisan infrastructure law, offers Federal funding to clean-up “brownfield” sites, which are often abandoned factory or…
Georgia Power releases key estimated damage statistics from Hurricane Helene as restoration progress continues
Sunday, September 29, 2024–5:20 p.m. -News Release- Georgia Power’s restoration efforts following Hurricane Helene continued Sunday, with the company having restored service to approximately 690,000 customers since the start of the storm. This rapid response has been possible through the implementation of new “smart grid” technologies and the quick work of pre-positioned teams who were…
Two fatal crashes in Chattooga County on Thursday
Saturday, September 28, 2024–11:30 a.m. -WZQZ Radio- The Georgia State Patrol Post 38 in Rome released information on the two fatal wrecks in Chattooga County on Thursday afternoon. According to state troopers, at 3:30 PM, they received reports of a head-on collision involving two vehicles on Highway 27 near Sloppy Floyd Lake Road. The investigation…
Hurricane Helene restoration progresses with 250,000+ customers restored
Georgia Power restores power to 440,000 customers following Hurricane Helene Saturday, September 28, 2024–7:13 p.m. -News Release- Georgia Power’s response to Hurricane Helene continues Saturday as the company marked the start of the first full day of restoration efforts. Since the beginning of the storm, Georgia Power has restored power to 440,000+ customers through the…
Blood donors needed now
Friday, September 27, 2024–10:46 a.m. -News Release- Blood Assurance is in immediate need of blood and platelet donors after the devastating landfall of Hurricane Helene and its impact on the greater Atlanta area. The storm has caused widespread cancellations of appointments and blood drives across our service area. In addition, Blood Assurance is on standby…
Flash Flood Warnings in effect
Friday, September 27, 2024–9:53 a.m. -National Weather Service- A Flash Flood Warning is still in effect for Floyd County, Bartow County, and Paulding County until 11:30 a.m. More than six inches of rain was recorded at the Richard B. Russell Regional Airport in Rome since Wednesday. 3.22 inches of that fell in three hours between…
12:30 AM Hurricane Update
Friday, September 27, 2024–2:30 a.m. -National Weather Service- Helene made landfall as a Category 4 near the Big Bend region of Florida around 11 PM EDT. As the storm moves quickly inland overnight, conditions will begin to deteriorate over central and north Georgia. Helene is expected to be a tropical storm once is reaches Northwest…
7:45 PM Hurricane Helene Update
Thursday, September 26, 2024–8:15 p.m. -National Weather Service- Hurricane Helene is forecast to make landfall as a major hurricane later this evening. Conditions will deteriorate across north and central Georgia this evening and last through Friday. We have expanded Hurricane Warnings further northward with this update. In addition to tropical-storm-force winds, a few locations as…
10,000+ personnel on the ground to support restoration efforts following Hurricane Helene
Thursday, September 26, 2024–6:47 p.m. -News Release- As Hurricane Helene approaches the coast of Florida, Georgia Power is making its final preparations to respond to anticipated widespread damage and potential for extended power outages across the state. As the majority of the state of Georgia prepares to feel impacts from the storm, the company has aligned the…
Georgia granted federal emeregncy declaration
Thursday, September 26, 2024–6:38 p.m. -News Release- On Wednesday, September 25, 2024, Governor Brian P. Kemp requested a federal pre-landfall Emergency Declaration for the State of Georgia in anticipation of Hurricane Helene. Governor Kemp’s request asked for immediate assistance to save lives, protect property and public health and safety, and lessen the threat of a…
Closings for Friday
Thursday, September 26, 2024–6:24 p.m. -Staff reports- The following are all closed on Friday: Floyd County Schools Rome City Schools Darlington Schools Berry College Georgia Northwestern Technical College Georgia Highlands College Shorter University Polk County Schools Bartow County Schools Cartersville City Schools Gordon County Schools Calhoun City Schools Chattooga County Schools Cherokee County, Alabama Schools…
What to expect from Hurricane Helene in Northwest GA
September 26th, 2024 – 3:00 PM WRGA Staff Reports – The effects of Hurricane Helene are expected to reach the local area early tomorrow morning, bringing potentially dangerous weather conditions. Currently a Category 3 hurricane, Helene is projected to make landfall in Florida around 7 PM before moving inland on a northern path. Floyd County…
7 a.m. Hurricane Helene update
Thursday, September 26, 2024–8:20 a.m. -Staff reports- According To the National Hurricane Center, we could see the arrival of tropical storm-force winds in Northwest Georgia this evening as Hurricane Helene continues to track north. Wind speeds are estimated at between 40 and 60 mph. The first bands of rain from the storm system are expected…
Tropical Storm Warning, Flash Flood Watch in effect for our area
Wednesday, September 25, 2024–8:00 p.m. -National Weather Service- The National Weather Service has issued a Tropical Storm Warning and a Flash Flood Watch for all of Northwest Georgia. Forecasters are predicting below tropical storm force winds with a peak wind of 15-25 mph with gusts to 45 mph. There is the potential for wind 39…
Area schools will be closed Thursday and Friday due to severe weather
September 25th, 2024 – 3:55 PM WRGA Staff Reports – Both Rome City and Floyd County Schools will be closed Thursday and Friday due to anticipated weather conditions caused by the Helene storm system. Floyd County Schools’ after-school activities have also been canceled for Thursday. After-school activities for both Friday and Saturday are to be…
Georgia Power prepared to respond as Helene moves closer
Wednesday, September 25, 2024–10:30 a.m. -News Release- Georgia Power is monitoring the development of an expected tropical system currently developing in the Gulf of Mexico and preparing personnel and resources to respond to potential power outages later this week. While the path of the storm may change in the coming days, it is currently forecast…
WRGA afternoon update on Helene
Wednesday, September 25, 2024–4:30 PM -National Weather Service- Here is the latest update as of 4:30 PM Wednesday: The storm is expected to make landfall as a category 2 or 3 Hurricane Thursday night in the panhandle region of Florida. Northwest Georgia should feel the effects of Hurricane Helene sometime in the early morning hours…
Northwest Georgia braces for tropical storm as “Helene” intensifies
September 24, 2024 – 8:30 PM WRGA Staff Reports – Update: Tropical Cyclone Helene is expected to roll through the region Thursday and Friday. However, before Helene arrives we need to be aware of the potential for Flash Flooding in northern Georgia on Wednesday and Wednesday night. The potential for a Predecessor Rain Event was…
Gas prices continue to fall as we head into autumn
Monday, September 23, 2024–9:10 a.m. -AAA South- Georgia gas prices continue to fall as we head into autumn Now that fall has arrived the leaves are changing colors and starting to fall just like gas prices. The Georgia gas price average continues to decline at the pumps compared to a week ago. Georgians pay an…
