Due to impacts from Tropical Storm Debby, the City of Savannah has designated the Enmarket Arena as an emergency shelter available for residents with no available shelter. City staff is coordinating with the American Red Cross to open the shelter at 8 p.m. Residents are encouraged to only use the shelter if absolutely necessary as capacity is limited.
The Tompkins Regional Center was opened as an emergency shelter for individuals experiencing homelessness and reached capacity around 7 p.m. The City of Savannah’s partners at Chatham Savannah Authority for the Homeless (CSAH) coordinated shelters for the homeless population on Monday. As of 4:30 p.m., all traditional shelters and Come as You Are Ministries had reached capacity.
Street flooding is currently widespread throughout the City, and while multiple street closures are occurring, extreme caution should be used if driving through the City. For the latest map of flood prone areas and current road closures in the City visit savannahga.gov/debby.
As of 8 p.m., the City has closed the following streets to traffic:
- Tremont Road from Ogeechee to Dodge
- Anderson St. from Atlantic Ave. to Ott St.
- Henry St. from Atlantic Ave. to East Broad
- Paulsen St. at Park Ave.
- Victory at Cedar Ave.
- Victory at MLK
- Brightwood at Margatha
- W. 48 St. from Stanley to Hopkins
- 52nd from Montgomery to Exchange
- 51st from Hopkins to Stevens
- Anderson at Paulsen
- Paulsen from 63rd to 60th
- Victory at MLK
- E. Lathrop at Louisville
- Jefferson from 38th to 39th
- Abercorn from 63rd to 66th
- Grove from Anderson to 31st
- Newell from Lathrop to Glass
- Magazine from Feeley to Cornwall
- Ferrill from Exley to Bay
- Habersham from Columbus Lane to 63rd
- Jefferson at 34th
- 60th from Reynolds to Battey
- 37th at MLK
- Thackery from Sylvan to Oakview
Parking Services will open all City garages to the public at 5 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 5. Residents who live in flood prone areas may park their vehicles in the garages free of charge. Boats, trailers and other vehicle attachments are not allowed. Each garage has the potential for flooding and certain areas will be blocked off. Park at your own risk.
All parking spaces on River Street are closed. There will be no enforcement of parking meters on City streets beginning Monday, Aug. 5. Notice will be given to everyone before enforcement resumes post-storm.
Savannah residents and businesses are urged to review emergency plans and kits ahead of the arrival of inclement weather. Information on preparedness can be found at ready.gov/hurricane.
Currently, Chatham County is currently under a Flash Flood Warning until 11:30 p.m., a Flood Warning until further notice, Tropical Storm Warning, Storm Surge Warning, and Tornado Watch. The greatest impact will be the potential for historic rainfall, coastal flooding, 2-4 feet of storm surge, rip currents, severe flash flooding, and tropical storm force winds.
A state of local emergency was declared on Sunday, Aug. 4, providing the City Manager authority to execute emergency management plans and procure necessary resources to prepare for and respond to any impacts brought on by Tropical Storm Debby.
For questions about City services or to submit a service request, residents can call 311. Service requests can also be submitted online at Savannahga.gov/311request.
For updates specific to the City of Savannah, residents are encouraged to follow @cityofsavannah on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter, or visit savannahga.gov/debby.
City employees are encouraged to call into the City’s emergency information hotline for updates at 833-251-6020.
CLOSURES
Here is a partial list of closures that have been announced due to Tropical Storm Debby:
Curfew: As reported, there is a citywide curfew in Savannah from 10 p.m. on Monday until 6 a.m. on Tuesday.
Savannah-Chatham County Public School System: Schools are closed on Tuesday, Aug. 6 and Wednesday, Aug. 7 for students and staff; no remote learning.
City of Savannah Government: A number of buildings and non-essential operations will be impacted or suspended on Tuesday, Aug. 6. For the complete list click here.
Chatham Area Transit: CAT service is suspended on Tuesday, Aug. 6 and Wednesday, Aug. 7.
Savannah State University: Operations are suspended on Monday, Aug. 5 and Tuesday, Aug. 6. Events are cancelled from Monday, Aug. 5 through Wednesday, Aug. 7. For more information, click here. Sign up for Savannah State University emergency alerts here.
Savannah College of Art and Design: Virtual learning begins Monday, Aug. 5; all buildings in Savannah are closed on Tuesday, Aug. 6. See full statement below.
"SCAD is actively monitoring the path of Tropical Storm Debby. The university’s top concern is the safety and wellbeing of its students, faculty, staff, and their families.
Given its currently forecasted track, all academic and administrative buildings in Savannah will be closed Tuesday, Aug. 6. Employees who make up SCAD's critical workforce may be asked to report to work and/or remain available during this time. Supervisors will notify those employees if they need to report in person or virtually to cover essential duties.
All SCAD Savannah classes began meeting virtually at 8 a.m. Monday, Aug. 5, and will continue until further notice. SCAD Atlanta and SCADnow remain unaffected. SCAD will continue to assess storm effects as the storm progresses and provide updates to university operations as needed."
Stay tuned for continued updates on Tropical Storm Debby.
