Sheriff Recommends People Stay Home Today So Crews Can Clear Roads

Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley is advising people to stay home today and off the roads so crews can continue working to clear away trees and debris and restore power.

Shirley said his officers plus county and city crews have been out all night, but there is still more work.

“There is a lot of debris and downed trees on secondary roadways,” he said Tuesday morning. “My deputies and road crews are out cutting up and removing trees. There’s just so many.”

The Sheriff said crews were out until about 1a and then back at it again around 5a.

One County worker was seriously injured overnight Sheriff Shirley said while trying to clear away a fallen tree.

“A County Public Works employed sustained a pretty severe injury. As they were cutting a tree, it kicked back and hit him in the face. He had a broken jaw and other facial injuries. He’s going to have some pretty substantial surgery, according to the County Manger.”

Shirley said if you don’t have to be anywhere today, it’s a good idea to just stay home if possible.

“I would wait until I heard from the media, from WNEG before I actually got out. We were so fearful that people would get out before daylight and hit some of the downed trees in the roadway. We couldn’t put up any barriers because the wind gusts just wouldn’t allow it,” the Sheriff said.

Shirley said one person was arrested last night during storm for driving under the influence, but there were not other arrests or injuries.