Environment

GEMA: Georgians should prepare as hurricane season hurries in

Submitted by Holly Pennebaker, Community Web Producer

Friday, May 24th, 2013, 8:10pm

GEMA: Georgians should prepare as hurricane season hurries in

ATLANTA -- The Georgia Emergency Management Agency stresses the importance of safety just before Hurricane Preparedness Week hits.

During the week, May 26 - June 1, education will be offered to all residents through Georgia who plan to camp outdoors, throw cookouts and spend time at the lakes or in the backyard. Severe weather can make its way here anytime, a Ready Georgia spokeswoman said, which puts Georgians at risk statewide.

View Comments | Post a Comment

County to recycle wrapping paper

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Tuesday, December 25th, 2012, 10:11am

HALL COUNTY, Ga. -- Don't discard your used wrapping paper on Christmas morning.

The Hall County Recycling Center will collect paper, holiday cards, gift bags and cardboard boxes after Christmas.

Bring your used holiday goods to the recycling center on Chestnut Street in Gainesville or any of the county's compactor sites to be recycled.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Lake Lanier at lowest level since historic drought

Submitted by Associated Press

Monday, November 26th, 2012, 12:13pm

Lake Lanier at lowest level since historic drought

GAINESVILLE, Ga. -- Authorities say Lake Lanier is now at its lowest level since March 2009 after dropping two feet in two weeks.

Officials say the lake is now at 1,058 feet above sea level, or 13 feet below full pool.

The Times of Gainesville reports that the last time Lake Lanier hit such a low mark was during the 2007-09 drought, when the lake was at 1,050.79 feet.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers predicts that Lanier could drop to 1,055.2 feet by Dec. 21.

The agency says there's been very little rain anywhere in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River basin in recent days. The basin includes portions of Georgia, Florida and Alabama.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Hall Co. to use propane-powered school buses

Submitted by Associated Press

Thursday, April 12th, 2012, 10:38am

Hall Co. to use propane-powered school buses

HALL COUNTY, Ga. -- The Hall County school system is adding 20 buses powered by liquefied petroleum gas, or propane.

The vehicles are scheduled to hit the streets by early May, making Hall County one of the first school systems in the South to use propane-fueled buses.

Officials say they expect the buses to save money on fuel costs.

Jewel Armour, executive director of operations for Hall County Schools, says the system now pays around $3.50 per gallon for diesel fuel, including delivery fees and taxes. With propane, the total cost is expected to be about $2 per gallon or less.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Register for Appliance Pick-up Week

Submitted by Hall Sheriff's ... on Monday, February 20th, 12:15 pm

Hall County residents will have a chance to get rid of large household appliances during the annual Appliance Pick-up Week. Residents must register Feb. 20 - March 2 and will be assigned a date for curbside pick-up.

Appliances accepted include stoves/ranges, refrigerators/freezers, washers/dryers, water heaters, dish washers. There is a limit of three items per household.

Call Monday - Friday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 20 - March 2 to register:

* Unincorporated Hall County residents: 770-531-1102

* Gainesville city limits residents: 770-532-0493

* Oakwood city limits residents: 770-534-2365

* Flowery Branch city limits residents: 770-967-6371

View Comments | Post a Comment

Army Corps limits water flow from Lake Lanier

Submitted by Associated Press

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011, 4:14pm

Army Corps limits water flow from Lake Lanier

ATLANTA -- The flow of water from a reservoir that serves much of Metro Atlanta will be restricted as a conservation step during an ongoing drought.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Wednesday that it will cut the flow of water from the dam at Lake Lanier from 750 cubic feet per second to 650 cubic feet per second. Army Corps spokesman Pat Robbins said the goal is to save water in case the drought gets worse.

If more water is available in Lake Lanier, more can be released later on to supplement river systems.

Georgia officials asked for the conservation step earlier this month.

Army officials said they evaluated information from Georgia authorities and determined that decreasing the flow of water into the Chattahoochee River will not harm the environment.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Drought spreads into North Georgia

Submitted by Associated Press

Thursday, September 1st, 2011, 9:20am

ATLANTA -- Georgia's state climatologist says extreme drought conditions have now spread into North Georgia and cover most of the state south of the mountains.

Climatologist David Stooksbury says all of Georgia's counties are now classified as being in moderate, severe or extreme drought.

In his most recent reports on the drought, Stooksbury said the outlook for relief in the short-term is not promising. Unless Georgia sees some tropical weather over the next few months, the state can expect below-normal rainfall and above-normal temperatures.

Without tropical rain, Georgia's soil is expected to continue to dry out. Stream flows, groundwater levels and reservoir levels are expected to continue to drop, and wildfire potentials are expected to remain high to extreme.

View Comments | Post a Comment