Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens has declared a state of emergency following multiple water main breaks that severely disrupted the city over the weekend. The water issues have led to canceled concerts, closed venues, and businesses, and have caused significant problems with water pressure, affecting basic needs like flushing toilets and having safe drinking water.
The state of emergency allows Mayor Dickens to implement policies and secure resources more quickly than usual. Parts of the city are under a boil water advisory as a safety measure.
Crews have managed to fix a major water main break in the Mechanicsville neighborhood at Joseph E. Boone Boulevard and James P. Brawley Drive, which had a citywide impact.
However, another significant break at 11th Street and West Peachtree Street in Midtown Atlanta is still being repaired. Mayor Dickens noted that this repair is more complicated, but crews are working around the clock to fix it.
Declaring a state of emergency helps the city access necessary resources faster. Mayor Dickens mentioned that Atlanta is working closely with the Georgia Department of Emergency Management (GEMA) and thanked the state for its support in restoring the water supply.
City officials have also been checking on metro Atlanta hospitals and senior living communities to ensure they are operating smoothly. They expect to receive 100 pallets of drinking water for distribution on Sunday morning.
Stay tuned to local news sources for ongoing updates on the water main breaks and related closures.