UPDATE 10/28/20 1:15 p.m.: The tropical storm watch has been upgraded to a tropical storm warning. A tropical storm warning means tropical storm-force winds are expected somewhere within this area within the next 36 hours.
The National Weather Service in Peachtree City has advised of the potential for severe weather conditions tonight into Thursday due to Tropical Storm Zeta.
Currently, much of north and west Georgia are under a tropical storm watch as well as a flash flood watch until midday on Thursday, 10/29. The main impacts include:
• Heavy Rain (widespread 2-4 inches)
• Flooding and flash flooding
• Strong and Damaging Winds (could down trees/power lines)
Here are ways you can get prepared now:
Keep updated on the latest weather by tuning in to your local weather channel and downloading a weather notification app so that it will notify you when a television or radio isn’t nearby.
Sign up for the City’s Smart911 notification system to receive emergency weather alerts should your property be included in a storm predicting polygon.
Determine a safe place to shelter in the event of damaging winds or a tornado. Look around your place for helmets, pillows, e.g. anything you can use to protect your head in the event of flying objects in high winds. As always, it’s good to be on the lowest floor of a house or structure since winds are less strong near the surface.
Charge your devices including smartphones, laptops, etc. now, and leave them charging.
Clear sidewalks and drains near your property of fallen leaves; however, do not push into the street as the additional material in the roadway could block storm water drains.
-Join arborists on Saturday, October 31 from 1-3 p.m. for the “Walking Past the Dead” Tree Tour! Visitors will walk a trail showcasing trees in the Historic Decatur Cemetery with an arborist stationed at each to share interesting facts and stories. This event is free but donations will be accepted for Women Arborists of the Southeast Scholarship Fund and Friends of the Decatur Cemetery.
Social distancing will be required for non-family groups and each group size is limited to no more than 10 people. Masks will be required by attendees during the presentations. Reservations are not required. For more information, contact Kay.Evanovich@decaturga.com.
-Enjoy making a fun Halloween craft that you can use to decorate your home with. Using a balloon, glue and yarn, you will create a 3-D spider web. The directions are included, as are all the supplies you will need. Pick yours up at the Glenlake Tennis Center. Supplies are limited, so stop on by today. For more information, contact Sara.Holmes@decaturga.com.
-Take a journey through time with the DeKalb History Center for stories from the vibrant past of the Historic DeKalb Courthouse. These stories include historical events, unexplained occurrences, and untold stories that still haunt these walls and for this year’s spooky tour they enlisted the help of local psychic medium to help communicate with the spirits who reportedly linger on the grounds of the courthouse.
The Virtual Spooky Tour is a pre-recorded video tour. Purchase your tickets at dekalbhistory.org. When your ticket is purchased, you will be sent the video link to watch at your convenience.
The DeKalb County Board of Registration and Elections has approved the following polling place changes for the November 3, 2020 General Election and any following Runoff elections. These changes are necessary because the regular polling locations for these precincts are not available or are no longer able to accommodate indoor social distancing requirements due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A complete list of polling locations for both Advanced Voting and Election Day voting can be found online at DeKalbVotes.com. Be sure to double-check your precinct location by logging into mvp.sos.ga.gov.
Register to join the Better Together Advisory Board and the City of Decatur for the next installment in our 2020 Anti-Racism Speaker Series. The Speaker Series seeks to mine the knowledge and wisdom of numerous thought leaders to challenge and inspire our community to take actionable steps to instill anti-racism throughout our norms and practices.
On Friday, November 6 we’ll hear from Andra Gillespie, Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the James Weldon Johnson Institute at Emory University. Visit decaturga.com/speakerseries to register for this session and for the upcoming sessions and check out the recaps from our previous speakers.
Are you interested in learning more about the development of the plan to address the CSD’s Senior Homestead exemption? If so, please plan to virtually attend this Board Work Session with the Senior Homestead Exemption committee coming up this Tuesday, October 27 at 6:30 pm. Information on how to join the zoom call or how to call into the meeting can be found below. For more about this process, please visit https://www.csdecatur.net/Page/4212.
Due to an extreme risk, be advised of a road closure on West Parkwood Road from Ponce de Leon Avenue to Parkwood Center. There’s a leaning Oak tree with a compromised root system that has a split on the backside of it. Georgia Power has been contacted and we anticipate the tree being removed as soon as possible.
Spooky season is here but celebrating will look different this year. Many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk for spreading viruses. There are several safer, alternative ways to participate in Halloween. If you may have COVID-19 or you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should not participate in in-person Halloween festivities and should not give out candy to trick-or-treaters.
The Better Together Advisory Board announces the second annual Welcoming Business Award. The purpose of the award is to:
Reward and publicly recognize leadership actions that create a welcoming and inclusive business environment in the City of Decatur; Encourage businesses to prioritize inclusivity as a “best practice;” and Publicize and share “best practices” among local businesses.
The deadline to submit nominations is October 23. Award criteria and nomination forms can be found at decaturga.com/welcomingbusiness. You can return the form via email to Linda Harris linda.harris@decaturga.com or mail it to her attention at City of Decatur, PO Box 220, Decatur GA 30031.
As of October 13, 2020 well over 99.9% of housing units have been accounted for in the 2020 Census. Self-response and field data collection operations for the 2020 Census will conclude on October 15, 2020.
Specifically:
Internet self-response will be available across the nation through October 15, 2020 until 11:59 pm Hawaii Standard Time (HST), (6:00 am Eastern Daylight Time on October 16, 2020). Visit 2020Census.gov to respond today.
Phone response will be available for its regularly scheduled time on October 15, 2020. Click here for a schedule and a list of numbers.
Paper responses must be postmarked by October 15, 2020.
Nonresponse Follow-up census takers will continue resolving nonresponding addresses through the end of the day on October 15, 2020.
The U.S. Census Bureau is currently updating 2020Census.gov, Census.gov, as well as all external and internal guidance to reflect the schedule update. So if you still need to get counted, you have a couple more days.
Residents of Census Tract 226.02 (area shaded blue) should still stop by the info tent between 5-8 p.m. during Fab Friday in Decatur to claim their prize for being the tract with the greatest percentage increase during the City Commissioner’s Census Tract Challenge back in September. 300 t-shirts are available so it’s first come, first served.
It’s time to pull out your best Halloween decorations, dress up your home or business in the colors and traditions of the season, and enter the Halloween Decorating Contest. Submit a photo of your best decor talents to Jackie Moore at jacqueline.moore@decaturga.com by Friday, October 23 and be sure to include your name and address in the email.
To vote for your favorite entry, visit our website by Sunday, October 25. Winners will be posted on the Decatur Minute blog and the Decorate Decatur Facebook page. Special yard signs will be posted in the yards of winners to display for Halloween.
The winner of the Commissioners Cauldron will be announced at the City Commission meeting on Monday, November 2! #DecorateDecatur
