Hurricane Dorian: Savannah Closing Evacuation Area Tuesday Night

SAVANNAH, GA — As Hurricane Dorian continues to make its way toward the coast of Georgia, Savannah is preparing itself for the worst and hoping for the best.

Chatham County is under a Hurricane Watch, meaning the possibility exists for tornadoes and
tropical storm force winds, the county said Tuesday. Expected winds for Chatham County are 50-60 mph sustained and 70 mph gusts. Furthermore, this includes storm surge of 4-7 feet above high tide. These are higher levels than experienced during Hurricane Matthew.

Tropical storm warnings have been issued for the Georgia coast as Hurricane Dorian approaches. Hurricane Dorian was packing 120 mph winds as the powerful storm pounded the Bahamas for a third straight day and Floridians along parts of the U.S. coast braced for sustained tropical storm-force winds on Tuesday.

Tropical storm conditions are expected within the next 36 hours for areas south of Altamaha Sound, which includes Georgia's Golden Isles, according to the National Hurricane Center. A storm surge warning is in effect from Tybee Island to the Florida line.

As of Sept. 1, Tybee Island, about 30 minutes from Savannah, began flying double red-flags indicating that water was closed to the public.

At 11 a.m. Monday the NHC estimated that the storm surge along Georgia's coast would be 4 to 7 feet if Dorian reaches the state during high tide.

The Savannah Police Department enacted curfew beginning on Tuesday, Sept. 3 from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily, until further notice, the county said.

All Savannah Chatham County Public School System are closed through Friday, Sept. 6. Chatham County Courts are closed through Thursday, Sept. 5.

The Savannah Civic Center opened at 8 a.m. Tuesday an evacuation area for people who cannot leave Chatham County. People can take a Chatham Area Transit bus to the civic center free of charge from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3. Citizens will be transported from the emergency evacuation center to an inland county shelter.

Evacuees are allowed no more than two bags or pieces of luggage per person. Only domesticated animals will be accepted, and should be in a crate and have shot records.

The Evacuation Assembly Area will stop accepting passengers at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3 and will not reopen Wednesday, Sept. 4 due to potential impacts of Hurricane Dorian. Those needing to evacuate via the Area need to do so Tuesday, the county said.

Savannah Animal Care located at West Bryant Street will be open 24/7 for pet emergencies during the storm.

For humans, the emergency departments at St. Joseph Hospital on Mercy Blvd. and Memorial Health on Waters Ave. are open. 24/7 Urgent Care has several open locations at Historic Savannah, Midtown and Pooler. For more information, call 912-234-CARE, like their Facebook pages or visit www.UrgentCare247.com.

Gov. Brian Kemp ordered evacuations that began at noon Monday for Georgians who live east of I-95 in Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Glynn, Liberty, and McIntosh counties. State highway officials began a westerly contraflow on I-16 at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 3, to help residents get out of the area.

Mandatory evacuation of Zones A and B (everything in Chatham County east of I-95) is currently underway, the county said.

Chatham Area Transit suspended the Belles Ferry services at 8 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 2. Talmadge Bridge will close starting at 8 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 3.

"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."

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.

Also on Monday, President Donald Trump signed an emergency declaration for Georgia, making any counties damaged by the hurricane eligible for federal funds.

Read: President Trump Declares State Of Emergency In Georgia

Dorian's current path shows that it could reach Georgia's coast around 8 a.m. Wednesday as a major hurricane with wind speeds over 110 miles per hour. About 24 hours later, the storm track shows it hovering near the coast of the Carolinas as a hurricane with speeds between 74 miles per hour and 110 miles per hour.

See also:

• Hurricane Dorian: Preparing Your Home, Pets, Travel Plan For GA
• 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
• Airbnb Offers Free, Temporary Housing Across Georgia, Southeast