After a week of being referred to merely as Tropical Depression 9, the storm system finally has a name after forming into a tropical storm on Wednesday.

Around 4 p.m. on Wednesday, the tracking cone for Hermine shifted westward to include more of the southeast portion of Alabama than previously predicted.

Pike County EMA Director Jeanna Barnes said that it’s worthwhile for Pike County residents to pay attention.

“It tends to take the northern part of the cone,” Barnes said.

“If that happens, we could possibly see some effects from it. If the tracking cone continues to move west, we could get even more out of it.

“You can’t just focus on the eye of the storm.”

Right now, Barnes said that the Pike County area will likely only get a small amount of rain and wind from the system.

With the storm expected to make landfall in 36 hours, Pike County residents planning to head to the Gulf for Labor Day weekend might want to think twice.

“It’s something that people should keep an eye on,” Barnes said.

“If you’re planning on going to Florida panhandle Friday you need to be aware of what’s going on.”