SAVANNAH, Ga. — Right now, hundreds of thousands of people are evacuating from the Georgia coast as Hurricane Dorian moves away from the Bahamas and toward the East Coast.
The latest advisory had Dorian as a Category 2 hurricane with wind at 110 mph.
Channel 2's Chris Jose is in Savannah where residents are boarding up their homes and businesses.
"If it's anything like Matthew, this will all be underwater. All of it," Geoff Riehl told Jose.
Right now: #Dorian evacuees are lining up at the civic center in Savannah. From here, they’ll be shuttled to emergency shelters further inland. @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/9wfyPUH0Aa
— Chris Jose (@ChrisJoseWSB) September 3, 2019
Riehl has lived in Savannah for more than 20 years. Jose met with him along the River Street, which is a popular destination for locals and tourists.
Some business owners along the street taped up windows and others laid out sandbags to prepare for Dorian.
"Definitely cautious and definitely a little nervous," Riehl said. "If this turns and it's coming, we're going to go to Atlanta. Better safe than sorry."
Savannah Police Chief Roy Minter said they’re prepared for some long days ahead.
“Once winds get up to about 35-40 miles per hour, we’re going to have to pull those officers off the street,” Minter said.
Minter told Jose that he has every single officer in the city working before, during and immediately after Dorian passes.
Mandatory evacuation orders went into effect at noon Monday for six Georgia counties east of I-95. A curfew will go into effect for Savannah Tuesday night at 9 p.m.
"I cannot stress enough this storm is still moving. It’s massive. I would not take any chances with this one," Gov. Brian Kemp said in a news conference Monday.
Several evacuees told Jose they're getting used to the process after recent Hurricane Matthew and Irma. Jose saw hundreds of people lined up to board the shuttles outside the Savannah Civic Center.
"I said I’m concerned for my friend, Iris. We live together in the same building," Sherry Shatney said.
Most don't have the means or transportation to leave on their own, so volunteers are driving evacuees to an emergency shelter in Augusta.
"They told us to come and evacuate, look at how God works. God is always good. He will always provide. He provided for these needy people. They have houses, but they’re scared of the storm that’s about to come," evacuee Janeira Owen said.
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