Covington County Emergency Management Agency director Susan Harris on Monday urged locals to put storm preparation plans in place, as there is a high chance that Covington County will get some weather effects from Hurricane Michael.

“Tuesday we will know more,” Harris said Monday afternoon. “A lot of it depends if it sways west or east. If it stays west then we will get most of the damage, but if it goes east it will miss us.”

Regardless, Harris said that everyone needs to be prepared for the worst of the hurricane, expected to be a Category 3 storm when it makes landfall, likely on Wednesday.

“People still have time before it touches down, Tuesday afternoon or early Wednesday to get everything that they need,” Harris said. “People should get all the medicine they take, food, water, flashlights, really everything that is in a hurricane kit.”

Harris said that the biggest thing is to make sure to everyone has a place to go to be safe before the storm hits.

“We don’t have a shelter in Covington County for people to go to before and during the storm hits,” Harris said. “We have one for the aftermath, but people need to make sure they have a place to go to be safe.”

“The storm will likely hit Wednesday, right during the middle of homecoming festivities,” Harris said. “So it is very important for everyone to be aware of your surroundings and be listening to updates on the weather situation.”

Harris said that if Michael stays on track and strengthens, it could have an impact about as bad as Hurricane Opal did in 1994.

“I am hoping that the hurricane stays east and dies down,” Harris said. “But either way we need to be prepared for the worst.”

In Andalusia, Mayor Earl Johnson met with all department heads and assistant department heads Monday morning to prepare for possible storm damage.