Gov. Kemp issues state of emergency ahead of Hurricane Isaias

by Collin Kelley

Gov. Brian P. Kemp today issued a state of emergency for all 159 counties in Georgia ahead of Hurricane Isaias.

Isaias, the first Atlantic storm of 2026, was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane and is expected to make landfall along the Gulf Coast of Florida on Friday night around 7 p.m.

Tropical storm watches are already in effect for Heard, Meriwether, Pike, Troup, and Upson counties.

Friday night and Saturday impacts could include strong wind gusts and heavy rain throughout the state, potentially leading to spin-off tornadoes, downed trees and power lines, flooding, and other effects.

A flood watch will go into effect for a majority of the state in the early morning hours on Saturday and continue through Sunday.

Kemp’s executive order enables emergency management teams to make necessary arrangements and position needed resources ahead of the storm’s impact. He has also directed the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) to activate the State Operations Center (SOC) beginning early Friday afternoon.

For more information on how to prepare, visit gema.georgia.gov/hurricanes and gema.georgia.gov/plan-prepare/ready-georgia.

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