Mayor Jonathan McCollar Declares Local State of Emergency for City of Statesboro

Mayor Johnathan McCollar today declared a local state of emergency ahead of winter weather this week.

Statesboro Mayor Jonathan McCollar has declared a local state of emergency for the City of Statesboro. A state of emergency is an official government document that authorizes City officials to execute emergency management plans and respond to impacts caused by the approaching winter storm. Bulloch County Commission Chairman David Bennett and Governor Brian Kemp have also issued emergency declarations for the county and state.

Bulloch County is currently under a winter storm watch. There is a risk of snow and freezing rain entering our area tomorrow afternoon, with impacts being felt through Thursday. An extended period of bitterly cold temperatures will occur. The winter storm could bring dangerous road conditions, burst water lines, and power outages. Continue to monitor your local weather channels and take time to prepare now by stocking up on groceries, having a safe heating plan in place, and winterizing water pipes. Need some ideas on how to prepare? Visit www.ready.gov/winter-ready.

Residents are encouraged to sign up for CodeRED, a high-speed emergency alert system utilized by the city and Bulloch County to share emergency updates. Residents can sign up by visiting www.statesboroga.gov/codered or by texting the keyword “Bulloch” to 99411 for a link to the registration page.

Pittman Park United Methodist Church will open a warming shelter on Monday, January 20th, starting at 5:00 p.m. Doors will stay open until 10:00 p.m. No readmittance after 10 p.m. The church will continue to monitor the weather each day to determine how long the shelter will stay open.

Bulloch County Schools will be open tomorrow, Tuesday, the 21st, but will be closed on Wednesday. Parents should be prepared for early release on Tuesday if weather conditions were to change rapidly. Georgia Southern and Ogeechee Technical College will conduct classes virtually on Tuesday and Wednesday.