Hurricane Dorian: Tornado, Tropical Storm Risk For Georgia Coast

GEORGIA — Tropical storm warnings have been issued for the Georgia coast as Hurricane Dorian pulls out of the Bahamas and heads for the U.S. coast. The category 2 storm was packing 110 mph winds as of 5 p.m. Tuesday and Floridians along parts of the coast braced for sustained tropical storm-force winds on Tuesday. The National Hurricane Center said Dorian's core is expected to move very near Georgia's coast Wednesday.

Tropical storm conditions are expected late Tuesday or early Wednesday for areas south of Altamaha Sound, which includes Georgia’s Golden Isles, according to the National Hurricane Center. Fierce winds from Dorian should reach the Georgia coast on Wednesday, forecasters said, accompanied by a 3- to 5-foot storm surge.

A risk of tornadoes is possible near the immediate coast of Georgia and the Carolinas on Wednesday into Thursday. Topping it off is 3 to 6 inches along the coast.

Patch is tracking every move of Tropical Storm Dorian. Get all the updates on the storm by subscribing to Patch's free breaking news alerts and daily newsletters.

Several airports along Florida's east coast have shuttered for the duration of the storm, according to the Federal Aviation Administration's Air Traffic Control System Command Center. Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines has already cancelled dozens of flights into and out of areas impacted by the storm.

President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency in Georgia on Monday, and Gov. Brian Kemp was in Chatham County, urging residents to obey mandatory evacuations along the Georgia coast ahead of Dorian. "This storm is a big one," Kemp said Monday, "with powerful winds and expected storm surges of 3 to 6 feet. This is a huge storm we're facing." Dorian is expected to produce between 4 and 8 inches of rain along the Georgia coast.

On Aug. 29, Kemp issued a state of emergency for Brantley, Bryan, Camden, Charlton, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, Pierce and Wayne counties. President Trump declaration extends federal aid to any counties impacted by the storm.

Gov. Brian Kemp discusses evacuations and emergency plans for Hurricane Dorian during a news conference Monday, Sept. 2, 2019, in Savannah, Georgia. Photo by Russ Bynum via AP

Georgians who live east of I-95 in Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Glynn, Liberty, and McIntosh counties have been ordered to evacuate. State highway officials have now turned all four lanes of I-16 westbound to help residents get out of the area. Contraflow on I-16 from Savannah through US 441 in Dublin will allow evacuees to use all four lanes of I-16 in the westbound direction.

“We urge the public to heed all warnings and evacuation orders; as we saw with Hurricane Matthew in 2016, a hurricane doesn’t have to make landfall in an area to produce significant impacts,” said Georgia DOT Commissioner Russell McMurry. “This is about safety, not speed. We ask that everyone plan ahead, pre-select your evacuation route using 511, carry needed supplies and exercise patience and discretion. We’re all in this together.”

Trucks line up at the N.C. Resources Commission boat ramp in Wrightsville Beach, N.C., Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. (Matt Born/The Star-News via AP)

Kemp also has issued an executive order temporarily suspending federal rules and regulations which would otherwise limit the hours that operators of commercial vehicles may drive to ensure an uninterrupted supply of petroleum products, emergency supplies, and food. On Monday afternoon, Gas Buddy reported wait lines of up to 14 minutes at gas stations near the storm's projected Georgia path.

On Tuesday morning, the Savannah Civic Center opened as a staging point for people unable to evacuate themselves. Evacuees will be moved to inland emergency shelters during the day.

All eastbound access at interchanges will be blocked from Dublin to Savannah on I-16 during the contraflow process. Travelers may exit contraflow lanes at the following locations:

• Exit 143 @ SR 30 / US 280 (Exit to Pembroke at Ellabell, Georgia)
• Exit 116 @ SR 73 / SR 301 (Exit to Statesboro and Claxton at Metter, Georgia)
• Exit 104 @ SR 23 / SR 121 (Exit to Metter and Reidsville at Metter, Georgia)
• Exit 90 @ SR 4 / US 1 (Swainsboro, Georgia)
• Exit 71 @ SR 15 / SR 78 (Exit to Soperton and Adrian at Soperton, Georgia)
• Exit 67 @ SR 29 (Soperton, Georgia)
• Exit 51 @ SR 31 / US 319 / US 441 (Dublin, Georgia)

Full Coverage

• Savannah Civic Center Opening For Hurricane Dorian Evacuees
• Hurricane Dorian: President Trump Declares GA State Of Emergency
• Fleeing Dorian, Dozens Of Pets, Animals Arrive In Atlanta
• Hurricane Dorian Now Category 5, Threatens Georgia, Carolinas
• Dorian Could Be 'Major Hurricane' With Dangerous Storm Surge: NHC
• Tropical Storm Dorian: Georgia Keeping An Eye Storm's Path
• Hurricane Dorian: How This Impacts Labor Day Weekend In GA
• Hurricane Dorian: State Of Emergency Declared For GA Coast
• Atlanta Motor Speedway Opens Camping To Hurricane Evacuees

Travel

Georgia Department of Transportation has 860 employees and 1,033 pieces of equipment ready to deploy as needed. Crews are bracing for possible tropical storm or hurricane conditions including torrential rainfall, strong winds with potential for downed trees and power lines and possible tornadoes in the south and coastal regions of the state.

Maintaining roads and bridges is essential before, during and after the storm. GDOT has Special Response Teams ready to deploy, and each region of the state has employees ready to deploy for hurricane preparation and cleanup. In addition, bridge inspection teams are at the ready to monitor the potential need for bridge closures in coastal Georgia.

Statewide, Georgia DOT crews are prepared to deploy as needed.

• GDOT's Transportation Management Center is monitoring traffic conditions statewide. GDOT will stage more heavily concentrated CHAMP patrols on I-75 near the Georgia/Florida border as needed.
• Drivers traveling on interstates and state routes should be wary of the possibility of falling trees due to high winds. GDOT is actively engaged in the removal of trees and overgrown brush along state rights-of-way to mitigate the possibility of falling trees across roadways, a particular danger during hurricanes and tropical storms.
• Drivers should strongly consider using alternate routes besides interstate highways. Often during evacuations, interstates are heavily congested while state routes go largely unused. State routes are a viable alternative to interstates. Consult 511, state maps and way finding apps to determine the best, the least congested route to ensure your safe evacuation.
• Due to Labor Day weekend, GDOT previously suspended construction-related lane closures on interstates and major state routes across Georgia from noon Friday, Aug. 30 until 5 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3. These suspensions will be adjusted as needed in the coming days.

Sheltering

• For accommodations in Georgia, visit the Official Georgia Tourism and Travel website.
• Evacuees and their pets are welcome in Georgia's State Parks, including horses at parks with equestrian facilities. Check GaStateParks.org for hurricane policies and status updates.

The public should monitor local radio and TV stations for the latest details on the path of the storm, weather conditions and possible evacuations. The public may also monitor GDOT's news service, The Network, at http://www.dot.ga.gov/AboutGDOT/TheNetwork for up-to-date information.

For real-time road conditions, call 511 or visit Georgia511. For weather information, visit the National Weather Service in Tallahassee, Florida, or the National Weather Service in Peachtree City, Georgia. Visit www.dot.ga.gov/DS/Emergency/Hurricane for more information including an Evacuation Route Map.