Georgia Department of Agriculture logo

Georgia Department of Agriculture
Gary W. Black, Commissioner
19 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SW
Atlanta, GA 30334

Georgia Department of Agriculture Responds to Threat of Hurricane Michael


Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 10, 2018
Office of Communications
404-656-3689

Georgia Department of Agriculture Responds to Threat of Hurricane Michael

Atlanta, GA. - Hurricane Michael is expected to have a severe inland impact in southwest and central Georgia beginning Wednesday morning through Thursday afternoon. The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) is working closely with state, federal and industry partners to support the safety and comfort of Georgia citizens, their animals and our neighbors along the Gulf Coast fleeing the storm.

Areas impacted by Hurricane Michael, particularly in Southwest and Central Georgia, should expect heavy rainfall, flash flooding, damaging winds and a potential for tornadoes.

To assist those evacuating with animals, GDA has temporarily suspended Animal Interstate Movement Health Requirements for entry into Georgia for the transportation of animals from areas expected to be impacted by Hurricane Michael in Florida. The suspension of entry requirements applies to animals entering Georgia from Florida only. For more information regarding the suspended requirements visit /gda-hurricane-response.aspx.

Efforts to coordinate state-wide pet and pet-friendly shelters are underway. Efforts to identify temporary sheltering facilities for evacuated livestock are also ongoing. Updated information regarding all animal sheltering locations is available at /gda-hurricane-response.aspx.

Additionally, the GDA is working with fuel and food retail license holders to ensure they are informed regarding storm preparation and response. More information on fuel quality control efforts and food safety tips are available at /gda-hurricane-response.aspx.

Stay informed with continuous updates on GDA's storm response efforts by visiting Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/georgiangrown/ or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/GeorgiaGrown.

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About the GDA
The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) is the voice of the state's agriculture community. The department's mission is to provide excellence in services and regulatory functions, to protect and promote agriculture and consumer interests, and to ensure an abundance of safe food and fiber for Georgia, America, and the world by using state-of-the-art technology and a professional workforce.

Find us on Facebook • Follow on Twitter: @GDAFoodSafety@GeorgiaGrown

For more information, visit www.agr.georgia.gov.

Georgia Department of Agriculture logo

Georgia Department of Agriculture
Gary W. Black, Commissioner
19 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SW
Atlanta, GA 30334