While Florida prepares for a Sunday morning strike by Hurricane Irma, Georgia is getting ready with a mandatory evacuation order for Savannah and the surrounding region.
Georgia Governor Nathan Deal has issued a mandatory evacuation order for all of Chatham County, which includes Savannah, as well as all areas east of I-95 and areas west of I-95 that could be impacted by storm surge.
Georgia has also expanded its state of emergency to include 94 counties in the state.
“The state is mobilizing all available resources to ensure public safety ahead of Hurricane Irma,” Deal said in a written release. “I encourage all Georgians in our coastal areas that could be impacted by this storm to evacuate the area as soon as possible…GEMA/HS continues leading our preparedness efforts as well coordinate with federal, state and local officials to safely evacuate the coastal areas, provide public shelter and minimize the disruption of traffic. Finally, I ask all Georgians to join me in praying for the safety of our people and all those in Hurricane Irma’s path.”
Hurricane Irma is set to strike Florida and the Florida Keys Sunday morning. The category 4 storm is currently near Cuba and the central Bahamas, with maximum sustained winds near 155 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.
According to the latest forecasts from Accuweather, however, the storm could also bring wind guests ranging from 40 to 60 mph to an area as far north as Georgia, South Carolina and parts of Tennessee.
Related Stories
Hurricane Irma Mapped: The Science Behind Why This Storm's Path Is the Worst Possible for Florida
Jose Upgraded to Category 4 as Second Huge Hurricane Churns Towards Islands Already Hit by Irma