Aftermath of Hurricane Idalia

On August 30, 2023, Hurricane Idalia, a category three when it made landfall in Perry, Florida, came through Brooks County as a major hurricane though losing some of its force. The southern and eastern areas of Brooks County were hit hard as where other counties along the southern and eastern areas of Brooks County. Lowndes County was hit hard with multiple damages all throughout the city of Valdosta, Hahira, and Lake Park. 

Quitman, Morven, and Valdosta sustained damage as well with down trees, limbs, power outages and immense rainfall. Further north in Brooks County, trees toppled, limbs cracked and fell, power lines were hit and falling, poles for power lines broke, damages to sheds, some homes, vehicles, and roads can be seen across the area. 

Now that Hurricane Idalia is over, many citizens are feeling the aftereffects. Multiple homes are without power, businesses without power, and further damage such as road closures and trees blocking roads is a major concern. 

Reports from several electrical companies including Colquitt EMC, and Georgia Power are saying it could be anywhere from days to weeks before full power can be restored. Many of the lines are down, transformer poles broken, and water standing in many areas where the lines are down. They are asking everyone to be patient as all crews are out to repair and many other areas have sent help to restore all the power. 

Companies, citizens too are also helping. Several have sent the word out to their family, friends and communities letting them know where power is, the option to come stay in the A/C a bit, get food, and to recharge electrical devices. Badcock, J&J Wholesale Meats are just two of the business in Quitman, Georgia that have opened their doors for people. Morven Baptist Church also has their doors open for anyone, but they are currently out of power. Citizens have offered to open their own homes for folks as well, inviting many to come over and to use their power. 

Mayor Marvin out of Pavo, Georgia released a statement to the citizens of Pavo, Georgia informing them that crews from Georgia Power were on their way down from Albany to help restore more power and that sometimes today they should have their power back up and the city well running once again. 

Brooks County Schools released a notice to parents of their closure today with the assessment of further road conditions and power outages to homes in the county for Friday opening or closing. Cook County Schools released a notice to parents also stating their closure today and the continued monitoring of the county wide power outages for Friday’s opening. Lowndes County Schools and Valdosta County Schools also released their notices to parents informing them of their closures until Tuesday of next week. 

The Georgia Department of Transportation, local law enforcement, and local officials are requesting that all people travel with extreme caution and to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary. Power lines are very dangerous and power crews are out in abundance. Local law enforcement is also cautioning drivers to remain diligent on the roads for fallen debris such as limbs, trees, and mangled materials. Remember if you come to a red light that is out, they remind everyone to treat it as a four way stop. 

I-75 is also a concern, north bound lanes were closed Wednesday, August 30, 2023 but crews were working to reopen them. Use caution when you are traveling through the Cook, Lowndes and north Florida areas. 



Brooks County and surrounding Lowndes County are in the process of cleaning up, but it is the citizens within the counties that are truly being the heroes.