Hurricane Dorian Hits GA | All Roads, Bridges Reopened

GEORGIA — Compared to the rest of its impact, Hurricane Dorian left Georgia mostly alone on Wednesday, though at one point, more than 15,000 people were without power in the state's extreme southeastern counties, according to PowerOutage.US. Hurricane Dorian once again became a category three storm as it moved north-northest along the South and North Carolina coasts. . The National Hurricane Center said Georgia's coast is still experiencing tropical storm conditions in the storm's wake.

As of 2 pm Thursday, about 2,800 were still without power. Forecasters predict Dorian's center will continue moving close to the South Carolina coast on Thursday, and then approach North Carolina Thursday night and Friday.

No official estimates of Dorian's damage to Georgia have been released. On Thursday morning, Gov. Brian Kemp lifted the mandatory evacuation order that had been in place since Sunday.

The storm was expected to go on full assault of the region Thursday with winds of 25-35 mph with gusts to 45 mph. The latest forecast from the National Weather Service said the storm has the potential for winds of 39 to 57 mph. "Now is the time to shelter from hazardous wind," forecasters said Thursday morning.

"Water levels could begin to rise well in advance of the arrival of strong winds," the center warned at 8 p.m., adding that large and destructive waves were likely to accompany the surge. In some places on the coast, seawater could rise to seven feet above normal tidal levels, forecasters warned.

Dorian began lashing the Florida coast with winds Tuesday, leaving catastrophic damage as it slowly crawled toward the U.S. Eastern Seaboard downgraded to a Hurricane 2 storm but still packing winds of 110 mph as of 8 p.m. Wednesday.

The National Weather Service office in Charleston, South Carolina, said the top winds measured so far in coastal Georgia include: 49 mph at North Tybee Island, 45 at the Hunter Army Air Field, and 40 mph at south Tybee Island.

The storm has killed several people in the Bahamas and caused widespread destruction on the islands as it slowly but forcefully churned toward the Southeast United States, where mandatory evacuations were ordered in several areas in advance of one of the Atlantic's most powerful storms on record.

President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency in Georgia on Monday, and 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."

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.

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.

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
• East Cobb Animal Shelter Rescues Dorian-Displaced Cats
  
• Hurricane Dorian: Savannah Closing Evacuation Area Tuesday Night

Georgia Department of Transportation had 860 employees and 1,033 pieces of equipment ready to deploy as needed.