Schools in Dorchester, Charleston, Berkeley, Horry and Georgetown counties will remain closed tomorrow due to Hurricane Dorian Friday, according to a tweet from the South Carolina Emergency Management Division.
Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune signed a Declaration of Civil Emergency Thursday afternoon in anticipation of Hurricane Dorian.
Bethune says she issued the declaration as a precaution, just in case she has to enact a curfew or other measures as the worst of Dorian approaches.
As for closures or damage at this hour, she says that 68th Ave. and Ocean Blvd. are closed due to flooding.
Residents of Virginia Beach’s Sandbridge community are ordered to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Dorian, Virginia Beach’s Acting City Manager Tom Leahy announced at a briefing Thursday afternoon.
High tides are expected between 2-3 p.m. ET which “will be at the height of the strongest winds and heaviest rains and storm surge,” according to Erin Sutton, Director at City of Virginia Beach OEM.
The storm has potential "to significantly impact” Virginia Beach, according to Deputy City Manager Steve Cover.
Voluntary evacuations are also in effect for Zone A residents and areas traditionally impacted by storms, Leahy said.
As Dorian continues to move closer to the coast, here are some of the highest wind gusts being reported.
Maj. Gen. Van McCarty has activated 1,400 members of the state guard to respond to Hurricane Dorian.
This mobilization also includes 100 high-water vehicles and several aircraft available to support search and rescue operation, McCarty said during a press conference Thursday.
Assets will be moved around the state as necessary, McCarty added.
The mandatory evacuation order for three South Carolina counties will be lifted as of 3 p.m. ET, Gov. Henry McMaster said.
McMaster said Jasper, Beaufort and Colleton counties will no longer be under mandatory evacuation.
Residents need to abide by the local authorities when trying to return to their homes, McMaster said.
McMaster said theses counties are further south but there are still concerns for the remaining five counties still under mandatory evacuation.
The five counties where there are still mandatory evacuation notices are Horry, Dorchester, Georgetown, Berkeley and Charleston.
The entire city of Georgetown is without power, McMaster said.
The Tropical Storm warning has been discontinued for the coast of Georgia and the Storm Surge warning has been discontinued south of South Santee River, South Carolina.
Dorian is moving toward the north-northeast near 8 mph. A turn toward the northeast is anticipated tonight, and a northeastward motion at a faster forward speed is forecast on Friday.
The center of Dorian will continue to move close to the coast of South Carolina this afternoon and then move near or over the coast of North Carolina tonight and Friday. The center should move to the southeast of extreme southeastern New England Friday night and Saturday morning, and approach Nova Scotia later on Saturday.
New images from Emerald Isle shows extensive storm damage after a tornado touched down today.
The island is part of North Carolina’s Crystal Coast.