Hurricane season is June 1st to November 30th.

Georgia is impacted by tropical systems from the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. During a hurricane, wind gusts exceeding 74 mph and torrential rain can cause damage to Georgia's shoreline. The direct hit of a hurricane also can cause a storm surge, a large dome of water more than 50 miles wide that sweeps across the coastline near the area where the eye of a hurricane makes landfall.

Storm surge remains the greatest threat to human life, but effective evacuations have reduced the number of fatalities. The six coastal counties at highest risk of evacuation because of storm surge are Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Glynn, Liberty and McIntosh.

Be Prepared! Plan Ahead.

• If you live in a coastal area, know your evacuation and shelter routes.
• Keep your emergency supplies stocked.
• Remain alert for sudden weather changes and all watches and warnings issued by the National Weather Service. Practice and discuss your family's emergency plans.

Family Emergency Supply List

• A three-day supply of bottled water per person
• Non-perishable food (canned, dried, etc.)
• First Aid Kit and any prescription medicines
• Battery-powered radio, extra batteries
• Flashlights, batteries
• Flares, booster cables, tire repair kit, fire extinguisher
• Special items for infants, elderly or disabled family members
• List of emergency phone numbers

Evacuation Routes

Plan your evacuation route using our detailed route maps or text-based driving directions.

Gulf Coast

Gulf Coast Hurricane Evacuation Routes
The map below depicts the designated routes to be used in the event of an evacuation of the Gulf Coast. Scroll down for text describing the routes in detail.

Atlantic Coast

Entering Georgia on northbound I-75 (from Florida)

• Take northbound I-75 north through Valdosta and Tifton to Cordele and points north.

Entering Georgia on northbound US 319 (from Tallahassee area)

• Take northbound US 319 through Thomasville and on to Moultrie, Tifton and points north.

       -or-

• Take northbound US 319 to Thomasville and then US 19/SR 3 to Albany and then westbound US 82 to Dawson.

       -or-

• Take northbound US 319 to Thomasville and then US 19/SR 3 to Albany and then northbound SR 300 north to Cordele.

Entering Georgia on northbound US 27 (from Tallahassee area)

• At the Georgia state line, take SR 111 through Cairo and on to Meigs. Then take northbound US 19/SR 3 to Albany. Then take northbound SR 300 to Cordele.

       -or-

• At the Georgia state line, continue on US 27/SR 1 through Bainbridge, Colquitt, Blakely and on to Cuthbert.

Entering Georgia on SR 302 (via Florida's SR 267/Quincy area)

• Take northbound SR 302 to SR 97 north to Bainbridge. Then take northbound US 27 through Colquitt and Blakely.

Entering Georgia on SR 241 (via Florida's SR 65/Quincy area)

• Take northbound SR 241 to Attapulgus. Then take northbound US 27 through Bainbridge, Colquitt and Blakely.

Entering Georgia on SR 97 (from US 90 in Florida)

• Take SR 97 through Faceville and on to Bainbridge. Then take northbound US 27 through Colquitt and Blakely.

Entering Georgia on US 221/SR 76 (from Greenville, Florida)

• Take northbound US 221 to Quitman. Then take northbound SR 333 to New Rock Hill. Then take northbound SR 133 to Moultrie and northbound US 319 to Tifton.

Entering Georgia on SR 333 (from Florida's SR 53)

• Take northbound SR 333 to Quitman. Continue on northbound SR 333 to New Rock Hill. Then take northbound SR 133 to Moultrie and northbound US 319 to Tifton.

Entering Georgia on SR 31 (from Florida's SR 145)

• Take northbound SR 31 to I-75. Then take northbound I-75 to Cordele and points north.

Entering Georgia on US 441 (from Florida)

• Take northbound US 441 through Edith and Homerville and on to Douglas.

Entering Georgia on northbound US 129 (from Jasper, Florida)

• Take northbound US 129 to Statenville. Then take westbound SR 376 to northbound US 41 to northbound I-75.

Entering Georgia on SR 94 (from Florida's SR 2)

• Take northbound SR 94 to Edith. Then take northbound US 441 to Homerville and on to Douglas.

Entering Georgia on SR 91 (from Alabama's SR 2/Malone area)

• Take SR 91 through Donalsonville to Colquitt. Then take northbound US 27 to Blakely and Cuthbert

Entering Georgia on SR 62 (from Alabama's SR 52/Dothan area)

• Take SR 62 to Blakely. Then take northbound US 27 towards Cuthbert.

Atlantic Coast Hurricane Evacuation Routes
The map below depicts the designated routes to be used in the event of an evacuation of the Atlantic Coast. Scroll down for text describing the routes in detail.

Leaving Chatham County and the city of Savannah

• Take US 80 away from the coast towards Statesboro and points northwest.

       -or-

• Take westbound SR 204 to US 280 towards Claxton and points west.

       -or-

• Take northbound SR 21 across I-95 towards Sylvania.

       -or-

• Take westbound I-16 towards Macon.

Leaving Bryan County

• Take westbound SR 144 accross I-95 towards Glennville.

Leaving Liberty County

• Take westbound US 84 to westbound SR 196 towards Glennville and points west.

Leaving McIntosh County

• Take westbound SR 57 to Ludowici to US 301/US 25 to Glennville.
• Continue on SR 57 to Reidsville, then take US 280 towards Lyons.

Leaving Glynn County and Brunswick

• Take northbound US 341 through Jesup and continue northwest to Baxley and Hazlehurst.

       -or-

• Take westbound SR 32 through Alma and on to Douglas.

       -or-

• Take US 82/SR 520 through Waycross continuing west towards Tifton.

Leaving Camden County and the St Mary's area

• Take westbound SR 40 to Folkston.
• Then northbound US 1/US 23 towards Waycross.

Real-Time Traffic Conditions
During hurricane season, Georgia DOT HEROs will patrol the Interstate-16 corridor to assist motorists. These units have specially trained personnel who can respond quickly to accidents and disabled vehicles. Message boards alert motorists to exit ramp closures/openings as well as locations for gas, food, etc. Our signs also alert the public to selected FM radio stations for weather and traffic updates. The information will include news of shelter availability, travel time, alternate routes and other information of importance to evacuees.

For interactive Georgia traffic information and assistance, contact 511 for real-time, interactive assistance.

Georgia Public Radio Updates

Georgia Public Radio, in cooperation with Georgia DOT, Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA), Georgia State Patrol (GSP) and the Georgia Public Broadcasting System, will provide updates on road and traffic conditions in the event of a hurricane.

Tune into these FM stations for severe weather information.

Interstate One-Way Driving Guides
Learn how to navigate Interstate 16 when it is converted to one-way driving (during large-scale evacuations only). 

In order to provide more roadway capacity during hurricane evacuations from the coast, portions of I-16 will operate entirely in the Westbound direction, meaning both Eastbound lanes of I-16 will be converted into Westbound lanes. These are called contra-flow lanes.

Two median crossovers have been constructed to allow motorists traveling in the normal Westbound lanes to transition to the contra-flow lanes for evacuation. One crossover is located just east of Chatham Parkway (mile post 162) and the second one is located just west of SR 307/Dean Forest Road (mile post 158). Care should be taken when using the crossovers.

There is normal access to all surface roads from the regular Westbound lanes. Additionally, for your convenience, the following exits will be available to motorists choosing to travel in the contra-flow lanes (normal Eastbound lanes converted to Westbound lanes).

• Exit 143 - SR 30 in Bryan County
• Exit 116 - US 301 in Bullock County
• Exit 104 - SR 23/121 in Candler County
• Exit 90 - US 1 in Emmanuel County
• Exit 71 - SR 15 in Treutlen County
• Exit 67 - SR 29 in Laurens County
• Exit 51 - US 441 in Laurens County

The Interstate can be re-entered only by using the regular Westbound entrance ramps. However, in Savannah, there are several points where the Eastbound exit ramps will be converted into Westbound entrance ramps. These ramps will provide extra access into the contra-flow lanes. The ramps are:

• West Broad Street
• SR 204/37th Street Connector
• Chatham Parkway
• SR 307 between Savannah and I-95

The one-way operation of I-16 will end west of Dublin. To end the one-way operation, traffic west of US 441 will be merged into a single lane in both the normal Westbound lanes and the contra-flow lanes. A median crossover has been constructed to take the traffic from the contra-flow lane back to the normal Westbound lanes. See diagram below.

From the crossover point Westward, I-16 will function as normal into Macon.

With the improvements to the I-16 one-way plan, your trip will be smoother than during the Hurricane Floyd evacuation in 1999. However:

1. Evacuation speeds will still be slow.
2. The travel time for the trip from Savannah/the coast will be longer than normal.
3. You can exit at numerous locations prior to the end of the one-way section of I-16.
4. You must have a full tank of gas.
5. You must be prepared by having all personal needs, medications, water, snacks, etc.
6. SR 21, US 80 and SR 204 are also evacuation routes from Chatham County and should be considered.