000
WOUS42 KCHS 291758
CEMCHS
GAC051-292200-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
CIVIL EMERGENCY MESSAGE
CHATHAM COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
RELAYED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
1258 PM EST MON DEC 29 2008

...UNDERGROUND FIRE CONTINUES TO BURN IN DOWNTOWN SAVANNAH...

THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE
CHATHAM COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY.

THE CHATHAM COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND THE SAVANNAH
METRO POLICE ARE ADVISING THAT BAY STREET IS SHUT DOWN BETWEEN
ABERCORN AND WHITAKER STREETS WHILE EMERGENCY RESPONDERS CONTINUE
TO MANAGE AN UNDERGROUND FIRE INCIDENT IN DOWNTOWN SAVANNAH. AS A
SAFETY PRECAUTION...ALL BUSINESSES ON RIVER STREET ARE BEING 
EVACUATED.

FIRE OFFICIALS HAVE NOT DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE UNDERGROUND
FIRE...BUT HAVE BROUGHT IT UNDER CONTROL.

THE RED CROSS HAS ESTABLISHED AN EVACUATION CENTER AT THE HOLIDAY
INN EXPRESS LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF ABERCORN AND BAY STREETS.

GEORGIA POWER IS ON THE SCENE ASSESSING THE INCIDENT AND ADVISES
THAT POWER WILL LIKELY BE OUT FOR THE REST OF THE DAY.

THE PLANNED OUTAGE WILL AFFECT THE FOLLOWING AREAS...
FOUR TO SIX HOURS WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF MARTIN LUTHER KING
BOULEVARD TO LINCOLN STREET AND LIBERTY STREET TO RIVER STREET.

SIX TO EIGHT HOURS WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF WHITAKER STREET TO
LINCOLN STREET AND LIBERTY STREET TO RIVER STREET.

EIGHT HOURS OR MORE WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF WHITAKER STREET TO
DRAYTON STREET AND BAY STREET TO RIVER STREET.

THE CHATHAM COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY IS ON SCENE
ASSISTING WITH THE INCIDENT...MONITORING CHANGES IN WEATHER AND
PROVIDING PUBLIC AFFAIRS ASSISTANCE. SAVANNAH METRO POLICE PRESS
RELEASES WILL BE TEMPORARILY ISSUED THROUGH THE CHATHAM COUNTY
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY ALERT SYSTEM.

CHATHAM COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WILL PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION
AS IT BECOMES AVAILABLE.

$$

ST/JRJ