The six counties include: Bryan, Chatham, Liberty, McIntosh, Glynn and Camden.
The governor said he was acting on a recommendation from the state’s Emergency Operations Command in anticipation of Hurricane Matthew.
“The National Hurricane Center predicts Hurricane Matthew will intensify as it moves from the Bahamas up the Florida Coast,” said Deal in a news release. “As a result, I am now ordering a mandatory evacuation for areas east of Interstate-95. I also encourage the voluntary evacuation of residents in low-lying, coastal areas west of I-95. Shelters are opening now in these areas. To assist Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMHSA) Director Jim Butterworth in coordinating and implementing traffic flow preparations, I’ve activated 45 members of the Georgia National Guard. They will assist state and local public safety and transportation officials.”
The voluntary evacuation request, issued Wednesday, remains in effect for residents west of I-95.
To locate a facility, call your local authorities, download the Ready Georgia app or visit GEMHSA’s website. A map of shelters is also available on the American Red Cross website. An evacuation map and a shelter map are attached.
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©2016 The Augusta Chronicle (Augusta, Ga.)
Visit The Augusta Chronicle (Augusta, Ga.) at chronicle.augusta.com
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Matthew still expected to bring rain, wind to ENC
Sun Journal, New Bern, N.C.
(TNS)
Hurricane Matthew might not make a direct hit on Eastern North Carolina this weekend, but it is expected to dump between 4 and 8 inches of rain on the area.
According to the National Weather Service, Matthew will make its closest approach to the N.C. coast around 2 a.m. Sunday as a category 1 hurricane.
But beginning Friday night, heavy rains are expected to begin falling over the area as the storm makes its way up the eastern seaboard from Florida.
Rain is expected to fall throughout Friday night, on Saturday and into Sunday, creating a risk for flash flooding, forecasters said.
Winds of 35 to 45 mph with gusts 50 to 55 mph are possible across portions of Onslow and Carteret counties. Across Ocracoke and Outer Banks Dare County, sustained winds around 35 mph will be possible, with gusts 45 to 50 mph.
Elsewhere, including Craven County, winds will be 20 to 30 mph with a few gusts of 35 to 40 mph possible.
With already-saturated ground in much of the area, there is enhanced risk for falling trees and power outages, according to the weather service.
State and local officials continue to make preparations in anticipation of the storm’s arrival. Gov. Pat McCrory is scheduled to visit the N.C. Emergency Management Eastern Office in Kinston Thursday afternoon to visit review plans.
MumFest, New Bern’s largest annual festival, has been canceled for this weekend.
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©2016 the Sun Journal (New Bern, N.C.)
Visit the Sun Journal (New Bern, N.C.) at http://www.newbernsj.com
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