Warnings and info. on Hurricane Dorian from the National Hurricane Center
Tropical Storm Dorian officially became Hurricane Dorian on Wednesday afternoon as it struck the U.S. Virgin Islands, picking up wind speeds that are now topping out at 75mph. And it isn’t done yet.
Forecasters say they expect Dorian to continue to pick up speed as it passes by Puerto Rico, and could be a Category 3 storm by the time it reaches the Atlantic coasts of Florida and Georgia this weekend. That would mean wind speeds upwards of 115mph, with the potential for massive wind damage and flooding.
Hurricanes are notoriously difficult to predict – Dorian could still shift course and spin off up the coast, missing Georgia completely. But with just days before it is expected to make landfall, South Georgia residents aren’t taking any chances.
With a five-day track error of around 200 miles, it’s still too early to say if Dorian will make landfall in Georgia, but the current model say it is a distinct possibility. “All indications are that by this Labor Day weekend, a powerful hurricane will be near the Florida or southeastern coast of the United States,” the National Hurricane Center said in its 11 a.m. key messages.
The Chatham Emergency Management Agency issued a Coastal Flood Advisory for the region yesterday, and urged locals to “review their personal emergency plans at this time to be prepared for any impacts to our area.”
On Wednesday evening Gov. Brian Kemp, along with Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner John King, and Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency Director Homer Bryson gave an update to the media on emergency weather preparations in the state.
Kemp said that the state is working with the federal government as well as with Florida officials on how to mobilize a storm response, but with Dorian’s path still in flux, they are still in “wait and see” mode.
“The best we can do is prepare for it, protect your belongings, protect your home and make sure you’re ready to move quickly in the next 24 hours or so,” said Kemp. “Over the next 24 hours, we hope to have a clearer pic of Dorian’s projections.”
