Georgia is preparing for coastal evacuations as Hurricane Dorian approaches the southeastern United States.
State officials held a press conference Wednesday evening, hours after Dorian reached hurricane strength and passed by the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp stressed that it is “very difficult” to project just where the storm may head in the coming days, and therefore, his administration is preparing for a number of possibilities. “We are already weighing considerations on how to potentially handle evacuation scenarios, including evacuations out of Florida into Georgia inland from Georgia’s coast and what that may mean for traffic on our roadways throughout the Southeast,” he said.
Kemp said discussions on how to deal with “vulnerable populations,” including elderly, hospital populations, homeless people, and inmates. He also said preparations include communicating with the federal government and neighboring states.
The National Hurricane Center is expecting a “major” Category 3 hurricane to make landfall over the Florida Peninsula over Labor Day weekend. Beyond that, forecasters caution that there is a great deal of uncertainty about where the storm will head.
Here are the 5 PM AST/EDT August 28 Key Messages for Hurricane #Dorian. For more information see: https://t.co/tW4KeFW0gB pic.twitter.com/uu34UdDYoW
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 28, 2019
Some models show Dorian sweeping across Florida and into the Gulf Coast. Others have it turning north after it hits Florida.
Need a quick guide to interpreting this afternoon’s EPS guidance regarding #Dorian‘s forecast? Here’s an annotated spaghetti map explaining (roughly) what we know and what we don’t. #FLwx: start preparing now. Folks from #LAwx to #NCwx need to keep a close eye on forecast updates pic.twitter.com/CF7CITqtok
— Jack Sillin | weather.us (@JackSillin) August 28, 2019
Authorities will set up an Emergency Operations Center at noon on Thursday, Homer Bryson, director of the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, said at the press conference.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for more than two dozen eastern Florida counties earlier in the day and urged residents to stock up on supplies for the next seven days. Evacuations in the Sunshine State will happen as Dorian gets closer and landfall becomes more certain, but DeSantis has not yet any.
Kemp said he is not going to make a emergency declaration just yet, noting that he hopes to have a “clearer picture of Dorian’s trajectory” within the next 24 hours.
