Coastal Georgia could get as much as seven inches of rain by Friday from the quickly-risen Tropical Storm Julia.

And some Coastal Electric Cooperative customers in east Liberty County had power knocked out because of the storm this morning.

A depression developed into the named storm overnight and was about 25 miles southeast of Brunswick at 6 this morning.

Mike Hodges, director of the Liberty County Emergency Management Agency, said the National Weather Service is telling his agency that the storm have a “minimal effect” here, but up to six inches of rain along the coast and two to four inches in the western parts of the county.

The National Hurricane Center has issued a tropical storm warning as sustained winds of 40 mph with higher gusts are expected into the afternoon. Rain will last longer. No surge is expected. Small craft advisories have been issued and rip currents could be perilous.

Hodges urged residents to continue monitoring conditions and to stay inside as much as possible.

Coastal EMC’s Mark Bolton reported ten spans of wire down and multiple broken cross-arms on poles along Islands Highway out passed Sunbury Road. He estimated that about 650 households were without power, but said a large crew was working on the problems around 9 a.m.