Is Savannah, Georgia Evacuating Because of Hurricane Irma?

After wreaking havoc in the Leeward Islands and the Caribbean, Hurricane Irma is now churning towards the Bahamas and Florida. It’s still unclear where it will make landfall in the United States, but several states are preparing, including Georgia.

On Thursday, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal ordered mandatory evacuations for all coastal areas east of Interstate 95.

The Category 5 hurricane recorded maximum sustained winds of 185 miles per hour.

Savannah lies in the path of projected computer models, according to the National Hurricane Service. The storm is expected to arrive in the state Monday.

Residents in Chatham County must leave by Saturday, Deal said.

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Deal has declared a state of emergency in 30 counties, including Chatham County.

“Ahead of Hurricane Irma, I’ve issued an executive order prohibiting price gouging and waiving rules and regulations for motor vehicles transporting supplies, equipment, personnel, goods and services associated with disaster assistance and relief,” Deal said in a statement on Wednesday.

“I urge Georgians in the affected counties to remain vigilant and be prepared,” he said.

The City of Savannah is putting up hurricane shutters on City Hall.

And the City of Savannah Stormwater Management is monitoring the four major canals in Savannah to try to keep the water clean when the storm hits.

On Thursday morning, the National Weather Service said the eye of Hurricane Irma is moving off the northern coast of Hispaniola and heading for the Turks and Caicos islands.

For more information on hurricane preparedness, visit the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency website.