Oconee County Emergency Services

06/17/2026

Congratulations to our very own Jim Gehrum! Jim serves on our Community Emergency Response Team as Recruitment Officer and 9-1-1 Sign program manager, as well as jack of all trades. Congratulations Jim!

🌟 Person of the Week: James Gerhum 🌟

This week's Person of the Week is James "Jim" Gerhum, a dedicated volunteer whose service has touched countless lives throughout Oconee County. From Emergency Management and CERT to the Walhalla Performing Arts Center, Jim is always ready to step up when his community needs him. Thank you, Jim, for the lasting impact you make every day! ❤️

✨ Big News! ✨
Because of the incredible response to our Person of the Week feature, we're expanding it! Beginning next Wednesday, you'll find Person of the Week not only in The Monday Read but also in The Journal each week.

Thank you for helping us celebrate the people who make our community such a special place. Know someone making a difference? We'd love to hear about them!

📖 Read, share, and help us recognize the hometown heroes among us.

06/16/2026

Great work by all!

06/14/2026

Per the US National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC

GAZ010-017-NCZ062-SCZ101-150000-
Rabun GA-Habersham GA-Macon NC-Oconee Mountains SC-
715 PM EDT Sun Jun 14 2026
..A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHERN HABERSHAM...RABUN...
SOUTHEASTERN MACON AND NORTHWESTERN OCONEE COUNTIES THROUGH 800 PM
EDT...

At 715 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9
miles southeast of Hiawassee, or 5 miles west of Lake Burton, moving
east at 45 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Clayton, Highlands, Mountain City, Tiger, Dillard, Sky Valley,
Tallulah Falls, Lake Rabun, Lake Burton, and Lakemont.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3482 8365 3488 8366 3491 8363 3492 8360
3494 8360 3495 8355 3499 8355 3500 8348
3500 8352 3502 8352 3508 8358 3507 8317
3500 8311 3501 8307 3478 8313 3467 8337
3469 8364 3476 8363 3480 8368
TIME...MOT...LOC 2315Z 279DEG 39KT 3485 8364

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

06/14/2026

Special Weather Statement
US National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
1210 PM EDT Sun Jun 14 2026

SCZ010-101-102-104-105-141700-
Greater Oconee SC-Anderson SC-Pickens Mountains SC-
Greater Pickens SC-Oconee Mountains SC-
1210 PM EDT Sun Jun 14 2026
..STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN ANDERSON...PICKENS
AND EASTERN OCONEE COUNTIES THROUGH 100 PM EDT...

At 1209 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 6 miles northeast of Walhalla to 9 miles
northeast of Toccoa. Movement was east at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Clemson, Seneca, Pickens, Easley, Central, Northlake, Pendleton,
Liberty, Norris, and Six Mile.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

If on or near Lake Keowee, get out of the water and move indoors or
inside a vehicle. Remember, lightning can strike out to 10 miles
from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you are close
enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter now! Do not
be caught on the water in a thunderstorm.

&&

LAT...LON 3499 8257 3454 8268 3450 8305 3497 8296
TIME...MOT...LOC 1609Z 262DEG 25KT 3484 8298 3464 8316

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

$$

AR

06/14/2026

The US National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC has issued a Special Weather Statement:

GAZ010-017-018-SCZ101-104-141615-
Rabun GA-Stephens GA-Habersham GA-Greater Oconee SC-
Oconee Mountains SC-
1141 AM EDT Sun Jun 14 2026
..STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT CENTRAL STEPHENS...EAST CENTRAL
HABERSHAM...EASTERN RABUN AND OCONEE COUNTIES THROUGH 1215 PM EDT...

At 1140 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 9 miles northeast of Clayton to 6 miles east of
Clarkesville. Movement was east at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Walhalla, Toccoa, Westminster, Sky Valley, Tallulah Falls, Salem,
Tallulah Gorge State Park, Oconee State Park, Devils Fork State Park,
and Lake Jocassee.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

If on or near Lake Hartwell, get out of the water and move indoors
or inside a vehicle. Remember, lightning can strike out to 10 miles
from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you are close
enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter now! Do not
be caught on the water in a thunderstorm.

&&

LAT...LON 3499 8335 3500 8311 3502 8304 3503 8293
3450 8304 3451 8308 3453 8308 3454 8311
3452 8312 3462 8345
TIME...MOT...LOC 1540Z 264DEG 19KT 3499 8330 3463 8342

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

06/14/2026

https://inws.ncep.noaa.gov/a/a.php?i=129052237

06/14/2026

⚠️ SEVERE STORM THREAT THIS AFTERNOON & EVENING ⚠️

Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible across the northeast Georgia, the western Upstate of SC, western NC today, Sunday, June 14, with the main window of concern running from 2 PM through 9 PM.

💨 DAMAGING WINDS are the primary threat — gusts of 40 to 60 mph are possible with any storms that develop, capable of downing trees and causing minor structural damage, especially in Northeast Georgia and the western Upstate.
The Storm Prediction Center has placed our area under a Slight Risk (Level 2 of 5) for severe weather.

🌡️ Heat indices will be near 100–104°F this afternoon ahead of storm arrival — stay hydrated and limit time outdoors during peak heat.

Storms should end by late evening, with cooler and drier conditions returning Monday.

🔴 WHAT YOU SHOULD DO NOW — BEFORE STORMS ARRIVE:

✅ Check the forecast regularly at weather.gov or your local NWS app
✅ Sign up for Emergency Alerts on your phone
✅ Secure loose outdoor furniture, decorations, and equipment
✅ Trim or be aware of overhanging branches near your home
✅ Identify a safe interior room away from windows (lowest floor)
✅ Keep your phone charged and have a battery backup ready
✅ Have a family communications plan and a designated meeting place

📻 Stay weather-aware today:

🔗 weather.gov/gsp
📲 Follow on Facebook and X for real-time updates
📡 Tune to NOAA Weather Radio for continuous broadcasts
🚨Ensure weather alerts are enabled on your phone

When thunder roars, go indoors! 🏠⚡

06/14/2026

06/09/2026