Mandatory Evacuation Orders Lifted In Parts Of Chatham County: Hurricane Irma

SAVANNAH, GA — Gov. Nathan Deal issued an executive order altering the emergency declaration for Chatham County Saturday afternoon. Two zones are now following a voluntary evacuation order, instead of mandatory evacuation. Additionally, Interstate 16 contraflow will end earlier than expected, Deal announced. (SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app.)

Evacuation zones were established Saturday morning, and Zone A, the area east of the Truman Parkway, is the only zone where the mandatory evacuation order remains in place Saturday afternoon.

Zone B from Truman Parkway to I-95 and Zone C, the area west of I-95, will move into a voluntary evacuation order as of Saturday afternoon.

"Chatham County's phased evacuation zones B and C are primarily at higher elevations than its coastline and provides a sufficient area to stage resources and necessary first responders preparing to serve the coast of Georgia in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma," the executive order reads.

Normal traffic operations on I-16 will resume 4 p.m. Saturday. Lanes were initially closed to eastbound traffic starting 8 a.m. Saturday morning to allow additional lanes for those residents evacuating.

The Georgia Department of Transportation will remove contraflow operations on I-16 by 4 p.m. Saturday, which allows the state to relocate resources being used for contraflow and transition them westward.

Watch: Georgia Coastal Residents Instructed To Evacuate

See Related:

• Hurricane Watch Issued For Savannah: National Weather Service
  
• Hurricane Irma: Evacuation Zone Times For Chatham County
  
• Hurricane Irma: List Of Georgia Evacuation Shelters, Where To Take Pets
  
• Hurricane Irma: Savannah Evacuees Get Free Bus Service To Staging Area
  
• Hurricane Irma: Check Savannah Grocery Store Hours Here
  

Deal's executive order altering the emergency declaration comes from a recommendation from the state's Emergency Operations Command and in agreement with the Chatham County Emergency Management Agency.

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