Hurricane Helene Update and Temporary Atlanta & Austell Lift Suspension

As forecasted, the tropical disturbance we previously alerted you about has now intensified into a Category 3 hurricane, with potential to intensify to a Category 4 before making landfall. Hurricane Helene is projected to make landfall at the Florida panhandle this evening, September 26.

Current state and outlook:

• Norfolk Southern is already experiencing operational impacts (curtailing or ceasing train movement) due to high winds and heavy rains in Florida and South Georgia. 
• We expect the impact to our operations to persist through the end of the week as the storm tracks across the Southeast and Southern areas of our network including the Southern Appalachians. Additional route restrictions are expected in these areas with high wind and heavy rain.

As a result, we have activated our emergency response plan, including advanced placement of equipment and materials in strategic locations, and when it is safe for our employees and contractors to do so, we will work expeditiously to get any impacted routes and facilities back online and operating at full capacity.

To ensure the safety of drivers and employees, lift operations at the Atlanta and Austell Intermodal facilities will halt from 10:00pm tonight to 12:00pm tomorrow, September 27th. The gates at both facilities will remain open as long as conditions are safe.

Customers with Intermodal shipments moving through the South, Southeast and Mid-Atlantic should prepare for delays of at least 24 hours. If you have questions on intermodal shipments, please contact Intermodal Customer Logistics at ics@nscorp.com.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through these weather challenges. Employee and partner safety and the safe handling of your shipments remain our top priority. We will issue our next update as significant changes occur.