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CHAMPION ist Place General Excellence Award Winner GEORGIA PRESS ASSOCIATION ‘BETTER NEWSPAPER CONTEST’ 2007, 2009-2017 SECTION A: VOL. 27 NO. 11 The Official Legal Organ ofDeKalb County, GA. Serving East Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Lithonia, Pine Lake, Tucker, Stonecrest and Stone Mountain. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14- 20,2017 THECHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.COM | 13 E M J | DEKALBCHAMPNEWS BiHllllll Breweries roll out new beers to celebrate new law FOR THE LATEST UPDATES VISIT US AT THECHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.COM MARTA TOP OFFICIAL STEPPING DOWN, SEARCH FOR REPLACEMENT BEGINS PAGE 2A LAKESIDE HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND CONTINUES DRAGON CON TRADITION PAGE14A SPORTS SECOND HALF COMEBACK PROPELS STEPHENSON OVER SOUTHWEST DEKALB PAGE19A QUICK FINDER Classified 17A Education 15A Opinion 7 A Sports 19-20A 641 1 6 IRMAGEDDON Hurricane Irma was declared early in its track over the Carribean as the largest recorded hurricane in history. Initial effects were seen early afternoon of Sept. 11. DeKalb responds to first-ever tropical storm warning as result of largest recorded hurricane in history Compiled by Carla Parker, Horace Holloman and R. Scott Belzer A s Hurricane Irma decimated many parts of Florida with wind speeds reaching up to 80 miles per hour, the Peach State hunkered down for its first-ever tropical storm warning. On Sept. 9, Gov. Nathan Deal issued a state of emergency for all 159 Georgia counties. DeKalb County officials said they were “all hands- on deck” for the storm as first responders worked to respond to fallen trees and downed power lines. DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond said the county will serve as a safe- haven for Florida residents affected by Hurricane Irma. “We would like to send our sincerest thoughts and prayers to those that have been effected by this historic hurricane,” Thurmond said. “Here in DeKalb County, we want to extend our friendship and support for those coming to Georgia and ensure that anyone in this county will be safe and secure as we wait out this storm.” DeKalb County officials said one of the biggest concerns would be dealing with power outages and fallen trees and tree limbs. As of Sept. 11, according to Georgia utility provider Georgia Power, more than 200,000 customers were without power. Thurmond said the county’s first responders were scheduled to work “around the clock” until the conditions of the storm passed. “These men and women have dedicated their lives and careers to protecting and serving this community and I thank them and wish them safety,” Thurmond said. Susan Loeffler, director of the DeKalb County Emergency Management Agency (DCEMA), said her department prepared for power outages and trees down and urged residents to stay safe during the storm. She also said residents should be prepared to be without power for four to five days. “This is not a big rain maker storm like you saw in Houston. We’re not going to be getting 50 inches of rain. We know we’re going to get some spot flooding and we’re preparing for trees down and trees down on houses,” Loeffler said. “I know it’s exciting and this is something that doesn’t happen very often, but please don’t run to your glass windows. Get inside and stay safe.” The DCEMA contacted county first responders a week prior to Hurricane Irma hitting the Florida Keys, said Loeffler. The county created the website www. dekalbcountyga.gov/irma for residents to visit and receive updates on the storm. “It’s all about being prepared. We’ve been working with everybody from roads and drainage to our school system, our hospitals and infrastructure officials. We wanted to do everything we could to be prepared,” Loeffler said. “It’s been a lot of preparing because you never know what’s going to come at you.” DeKalb County Government offices closed Sept. 11 and Sept. 12. ► SEE IRMA ON PAGE 5A