BLUE RIDGE, GA – Fannin County is already feeling the effects of hurricane Irma. Cabins and hotel rooms are becoming scarce as our southern neighbors flee for higher ground.

Tracy Johnson with My Mountain Cabin Rentals confirmed that all of their rental properties are booked for this weekend. She said, “that rental agencies in the area are working closely with each other to find a place for everyone in need.”

The Comfort Inn & Suites located at Blue Ridge Overlook also experienced a spike in bookings. An employee with the lodge stated, “We are completely booked for Friday night and have very few rooms left for Saturday.”

Fannin County EMA Director Robert Graham doesn’t expect any issues for our county due to the large numbers of those escaping the impact of Irma. He stated, “We are used to having large crowds on weekends.” Depending on the path that Irma takes, Graham said “We could see more people coming from the East at the beginning of the week.”

Graham added that there are several shelters in our area, with the Fannin County Rec Center located on Tom Boyd Road being the largest.  Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) would notify Fannin County if need arises to open these facilities. Graham is staying in contact with GEMA and the Red Cross, but says, “For now only shelters to the South of us are being opened.”

As of Thursday, September 7, 2017, Fannin County is at a low to moderate risk for high winds, but Graham is closely monitoring weather models to ensure that Fannin County EMA is prepared if conditions should change.

Fannin County EMA has inspected and are staging their equipment ahead of this weekend. Graham stated that “they are making sure all generators are in working order and that they have plenty of fuel in case of shortages.”

After Hurricane Harvey’s devastating impact on Texas two weeks ago, and with the uncertainty of what Hurricane Irma will bring, gas shortages have been a concern for many in our area. While gas prices have risen, most filling stations in our region do not expect to run out of fuel from this latest natural disaster.

If Hurricane Irma were to change course or maintain severity as it enters the mainland, it wouldn’t be the first time that Fannin County has felt the effects of a severe hurricane. Hurricane Opal brought destruction into the North Georgia mountains.

In late September of 1995 Hurricane Opal traveled north through the state of Georgia bringing 7-10 inches of rain in Fannin County.  Along with heavy rains, Opal brought high winds which caused downed trees and widespread power outages.

Graham does not expect another Opal scenario based on the current model of Irma’s path but he and his team are prepared to take action in the event that North Georgia is faced with another tropical storm.

Follow FetchYourNews for all the latest updates on Hurricane Irma’s effects in our area.