Hurricane watch extended to entire Georgia coast ahead of Dorian

BRUNSWICK, Ga. — As Hurricane Dorian continues moves away from the Bahamas, Georgia officials have initiated efforts to prepare for the storm's impact on the coast. Dorian remains a powerful Category 4 storm with sustained winds at 140 mph.

Here's the latest:

10:22 p.m.

Dorian is remaining stationary off the coast of Florida.

8:52 p.m.

They eye of Dorian continues to wobble, but no real movement yet.

8 p.m.

Severe Weather Team 2's Brad Nitz says things have remained much of the same with the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center

7:11 p.m.

Gov. Kemp signs executive order to move Georgia National Guardsmen to help with Hurricane Dorian preparations.

5:49 p.m. 

Traffic is already at a crawl on I-16 near Macon as people start to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Dorian. The contraflow of lanes begins Tuesday at 8 a.m.

5:11 p.m.

A hurricane watch has now been extended to the entire Georgia coast as Dorian remains a powerful Category 4 storm over the Bahamas.

4:50 p.m.

Channel 2's Chris Jose is in Savannah, where some residents have chosen to stay and ride out the storm.

4:45 p.m.

Hurricane Dorian now has sustained winds of 145 mph and remains a powerful Category 4 storm. The hurricane is currently stationary over the Bahamas.

3:44 p.m. 

Georgia State Parks have opened their doors to Hurricane Dorian evacuees. Channel 2's Richard Elliot is at High Falls State Park as people displaced from Dorian arrive.

3:06 p.m. 

The Braves are offering free tickets to evacuees from Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina Tickets are for the games on Tuesday and Thursday.

Residents must show valid government IDs for specific coastal zip codes to be eligible.

"We welcome those who have been evacuated from their homes and we hope we can take their minds off the storm for a few hours," said Derek Schiller, Braves President and CEO. "Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who are impacted."

2:30 p.m.

Gov. Brian Kemp gave another updates on preparations along the Georgia coastline ahead of Hurricane Dorian:

1:10 p.m.

Airbnb is offering free housing for evacuees and volunteers in Georgia impacted by Hurricane Dorian.

11:24 p.m.

Kemp is urging all residents of coastal Georgia to heed evacuation orders.

"This storm remains a critical threat to Georgia," Kemp says. "This storm is still moving. It's massive. I would not take any chances ... It's not worth the risk of riding it out."

11:06 a.m.

Kemp will hold a news conference at 11:20 a/m/ on Georgia evacuation plans.

11:00 a.m.

Mandatory evacuation orders will take effect in an hour in six coastal Georgia counties east of I-95: Glynn, McIntosh, Camden, Liberty, Chatham and Bryan.

10:57 a.m.

A hurricane watch has been extended into Georgia to the Altamaha sound. A storm surge watch is in effect from the Florida line to the Savannah River.

10:50 a.m. 

Kemp is on his way to the Georgia coast to work with officials there ahead of Hurricane Dorian.

10:23 a.m.

Traffic is already starting to slow headed out of Savannah. Officials will begin counterflow of traffic Tuesday.

All lanes of I-16 with be switched to westbound only from Savannah to U.S. 411 in Dublin Tuesday at 8 a.m.

10:08 a.m.

President Donald Trump declared an emergency declaration for 12 southeast Georgia counties, allowing direct federal assistance in the form of personnel and assets to aid the affected region of Georgia.  The counties are: Brantley, Bryan, Camden, Charlton, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, Pierce and Wayne.  
 
Currently, six shelter locations have been identified in Bibb, Columbia, Coffee, Laurens, McDuffie and Ware counties. Information regarding those shelter locations will be posted to the GEMA/HS website and social media pages.

7:00 a.m.

Hurricane watches extend all the way to the Georgia/Florida line, though no watches are in effect yet for any Georgia counties.

6:00 a.m.

In a statement, the College of Coastal Georgia announced it will cancel classes and suspend nonessential operations in Brunswick and Camden on Tuesday. Residence halls will stay open and food services and campus police will continue to operate, the college said.

A statement from Savannah State University said the school will close student housing Monday at 6 p.m. and will cancel classes on campus Tuesday "out of an abundance of caution."

"Hurricane Dorian‘s path remains uncertain, but it is expected that Savannah's coastal area will experience tropical-storm-force winds and substantial rainfall, which could lead to campus flooding and power outages," the statement said.

Students were directed to make immediate plans to leave the campus or to make contact with a residence hall director for help.

Savannah College of Art and Design closed the campus immediately due to the magnitude of the storm and postponed fall orientation and move-in until at least Sept. 9. Fall quarter classes won't start until at least Sept. 11, the college said.

Georgia Southern University, which has a campus in Savannah, has canceled classes Tuesday and Wednesday, state officials said Monday. Dining services will be open Tuesday.

Augusta University will begin receiving evacuees, a University System of Georgia spokeswoman said Monday.

Cox Media Group