Kemp extends Helene emergency, southeast Georgia braces for Milton

(The Center Square) – Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall in Florida on Wednesday evening as a Category 4 storm and could cause some problems in southeastern Georgia.

Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency for 38 counties that could be affected. He extended the state of emergency for 50 counties still cleaning up from Helene another seven days.

The governor did leave a statewide moratorium on the gas tax in place for the duration of the emergency. It had been set to expire on Wednesday.

Georgia has been a haven for Floridians under mandatory evacuation orders as the storm moves toward the Sunshine State. The Georgia Department of Transportation opened Peach Pass lanes on Tuesday to northbound traffic only to help ease congestion on I-75 and said Wednesday the lanes will remain open until further notice.

The Peach State is still reeling from Hurricane Helene, which moved from southeast Georgia to the northeast portion of the state.

The National Hurricane Center said Wednesday afternoon Hurricane Milton is growing in size as it approaches Florida's west coast. The storm is already producing rain and strong winds. The National Weather Service said 53 tornado warnings were issued in Florida as of 3 p.m. Wednesday.

The Atlantic hurricane season doesn't end until Nov. 30.