Hurricane Dorian: Now Major Category 3, Georgia Preparing

GEORGIA — Just as the Labor Day weekend was set to begin, Hurricane Dorian became a major Category 3 hurricane Friday afternoon.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis warned of a possible "Category 4 plus" before the storm's expected arrival at 8 a.m. Tuesday somewhere along Florida's eastern coast.

"The precise path of the storm is still somewhat uncertain," DeSantis said Friday. "I think there's a pretty high degree of certainty that this is going to be a major hurricane — Category 4, potentially even Category 4 plus."

DeSantis also warned the more than 21 million Floridians to prepare for the possibility of a multi-day storm. He said 2,000 soldiers and airmen with the Florida National Guard would be activated by the end of Friday and another 2,000 would be activated on Saturday out of a total of the 12,000 available.

"This is potentially a multi-day event where it will churn slowly across the state," DeSantis said. "Be prepared and be prepared potentially for a multi-day event."

On Thursday, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp issued a state of emergency for several coastal counties. The state of emergency is in Brantley, Bryan, Camden, Charlton, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, Pierce and Wayne Counties to assist with preparation, response and recovery, Kemp said on Thursday afternoon.

Officials in Georgia are watching and preparing for the storm's potential impact, which may include heavy rain and flooding in south and central Georgia, as well as a potential influx of evacuees from Florida.

Additionally, Kemp 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, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency said. This Executive Order also temporarily waives specific weight, height, and length restrictions for vehicles traveling through Georgia for purposes of disaster preparation or relief, subject to Department of Public Safety oversight and permitting.

"I urge our citizens to be ready to move very quickly. We still don't know a lot about the path this storm will take," Kemp said at a news conference Thursday. "We should know more in the next 24 hours."

WSB-TV reported that the Georgia Emergency Management Agency will be opening its emergency operations center. GEMA has workers from different agencies who will be there coordinating the response and making sure resources get to the right places, the station said.

The risk of the storm growing to a Category 4 before it makes landfall continues to increase, although where it will hit the coast and how strong it will be are still unknown.

"Data from a reconnaissance plane indicate that with maximum sustained winds have increased to near 115 mph ... with higher gusts," the National Hurricane Center said at 2 p.m. Friday. "Dorian is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Additional strengthening is forecast, and Dorian is anticipated to remain an extremely dangerous major hurricane while it moves near the northwestern Bahamas and approaches the Florida peninsula into early next week."

The storm was located about 445 miles miles east of the northwestern Bahamas and 625 miles east of West Palm Beach with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph and higher gusts as of 2 p.m. Friday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

"Life-threatening storm surge and devastating hurricane-force winds are likely by early next week, but it is too soon to determine where the highest storm surge and winds will occur," the National Hurricane Center said on Friday at 11 a.m. "It is too soon to determine where the highest storm surge and winds will occur."

Weather officials also noted that a "prolonged period of storm surge, high winds and rainfall" is likely in portions of Florida into next week, including the possibility that hurricane-force winds will strike inland portions of the state.

The National Hurricane Center said heavy rains are expected over portions of the Bahamas, Florida and elsewhere in the southeastern United States, including Georgia, this weekend into the middle of next week regardless of where Dorian strikes.

Coastal sections of the Southeast, including Savannah, and the northwestern Bahamas could be drenched with 6 to 12 inches of rain, with isolated 18 inch totals possible in some areas. This rainfall may cause life-threatening flash floods, the NHC said.

Weather officials said hurricane force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center while tropical force winds extend outward up to 105 miles.

"Dorian is moving toward the northwest near 10 mph ... A slower west-northwestward to westward motion should begin tonight and continue into early next week," the National Hurricane Center said at 2 p.m.

"On this track, the core of Dorian should move over the Atlantic well north of the southeastern and central Bahamas today and tomorrow, be near or over the northwestern Bahamas on Sunday, and be near the Florida peninsula late Monday," weather officials explained at 2 p.m. Friday.

The latest update from the National Weather Service regarding Georgia says Hurricane Dorian is forecast to make landfall somewhere along the eastern Florida coastline Monday morning, and eventually move northward, but there are significant differences in the model guidance as to the exact track of the hurricane after three to four days.

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.

Travel

Georgia Department of Transportation has prepared on a statewide level in partnership with the Governor's Office, Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, the National Weather Service and state and local officials. GDOT alone 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.

The International Space Station released video of the storm as it churned over the Atlantic.

Sheltering

• Ahead of the storm's arrival, the Atlanta Motor Speedway is opening its camping facilities to evacuees seeking refuge from Hurricane Dorian. The Speedway, which is equipped to handle thousands of campers during its annual NASCAR weekend, will provide camping space free of charge for dry RV and tent campers in its Legends Campground. A limited number of camping spaces with water, power and sewer are also available for a nominal fee of $20 per night in the Premier Campground. Located adjacent to the campgrounds, AMS will also open The Rinnai Shower Station camper bath house, allowing evacuees free access to hot showers and restroom facilities during their stay.
• 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.

SEE ALSO:

• 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

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.