Montgomery city, county leaders warn residents to be storm ready ahead of Isaias
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WAKA) – Crews in Montgomery are busy preparing for the impacts of Hurricane Isaias ahead of this weekend.
Montgomery mayor Steven Reed, U.S. Congressman Shomari Figures and other EMA and county leaders held a press conference Thursday to provide the latest information and guidance for residents ahead of the storm.
Officials says theyre preparing for high winds, flash flooding, and tornadoes.
Crews have been checking equipment, fueling up trucks and generators, and getting preparations finished so that they’re ready to respond. Montgomery County EMA Director Wade Lyles says he’s expecting winds to get up to 30-50 miles per hour. He says the biggest threat they’re on the lookout for is tornadoes on the west side of Montgomery and Alabama.
For residents, Mayor Reed says it’s important to have multiple ways to receive alerts, have an emergency plan in place and have plenty of food, water, and medications readily available. You should also make sure your phones are fully charged and that you have a way to charge them without using electricity.
Officials say it’s important that residents do not rely solely on outdoor warning sirens.
“We just ask for those in the community to do what you can in the hours leading up to this. Just prepare yourself for worst case scenario, and hopefully it wont come to that,” says Mayor Reed.
On the federal level, Representative Figures says he has a disaster declaration request ready to submit to the White House should the state need additional help.
We first and foremost want everyone to remain safe, this is not meant to serve as any sort of over exaggeration of weather that is about to come,” says Figures. “What is coming is a Category 2 hurricane with the potential for wind, the potential for rain, and with it flooding and tornadoes as well.”
More than 150 FEMA trucks are on the way to Maxwell Air Force base to respond to the after effects of the storm.
A tornado shelter will be opening up for residents who need a place to go. That address is 360 Williams drive, Montgomery, Alabama, 36110.
If you are within Montgomery city limits, you’re asked to call 311 for trees and power lines down. If you are outside the city limits, you should call 334-625-2339.
If you face a life threatening emergency, you’re asked to call 911.
