Disaster Discourse: The Hagerty Blog

HURRICANE DORIAN CONTINUES TO TRAVEL ALONG THE US EAST COAST AS A CATEGORY 2 HURRICANE

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2019 AS OF 11:00 AM EST

After strengthening back to Category 3 status late last night while moving along the coast of Georgia, Hurricane Dorian has weakened back to a Category 2 Hurricane. Hurricane Dorian is currently traveling in a north-northeast direction past the coast of South Carolina, but it is expected to increase in speed and move in a northeast direction on Friday. Guidance shows that Dorian will continue its current track, moving dangerously close to North Carolina and potentially making a brief landfall in the Outer Banks of North Carolina Friday morning. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) shows Hurricane Dorian moving past the US east coast and arriving in Nova Scotia, Canada on Saturday evening.

NOAA 5-Hour Time Lapse of Hurricane Dorian’s Track: Source

Currently, hurricane force winds extend 60 miles and tropical force winds reach 195 miles from the eye of the storm. Hurricane Dorian has sustained winds of 110 miles per hour. Therefore, residents of the Carolinas should expect hurricane conditions as Dorian travels along the coast.  Residents may experience heavy rain, storm surge, and flash flooding in the coming days. Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, and North Carolina issued evacuation orders for residents. Evacuation orders have been lifted for some of the counties in Florida and Georgia; therefore, carefully review the information below to determine which counties remain under notice.

NOAA Potential Arrival Time of Tropical Force Winds: Source

The U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) encourages individuals to stay safe in flooded areas– turn around, don’t drown! Traveling along the east coast, Hurricane Dorian has the potential to bring life-threatening storm surge and inland flooding to many coastal communities. Individuals should heed the warnings of local authorities and prepare for hurricane conditions. The Hagerty Blog Team will continue providing information and updates.

HH Guidance on Flood Safety


Public Advisories

Here’s the breakdown of public advisories from NOAA’s NHC in decreasing order of severity:

Hurricane Warning:

  • Savannah River to the North Carolina / Virginia border
  • Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds

Tropical Storm Warning:

  • North Carolina / Virginia border to Fenwick Island, DE
  • Chesapeake Bay from Drum Point southward
  • Tidal Potomac south of Cobb Island
  • Altamaha Sound GA to Savannah River

Tropical Storm Watch:

  • Woods Hole to Sagamore Beach, MA
  • Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, MA

Storm Surge Warning:

  • Edisto Beach, SC to Poquoson, VA
  • Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds
  • Neuse and Pamlico Rivers
  • Hampton Roads, VA

Evacuations and Emergency Declarations

Florida: See evacuation zones here

Georgia: See evacuation resources here

  • Mandatory Evacuations have been issued for: Appling, Bacon, Brantley, Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Echols, Effingham, Evans, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, Pierce, Screven, Tattnall, Wayne and Ware counties

South Carolina: See evacuation zones here

  • Mandatory Evacuations have been issued for: Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Horry, Georgetown, and Jasper counties

North Carolina: See evacuation zones…

  • Voluntary Evacuations have been issued for: Beaufort, Camden, Carteret, Craven, Duplin, Jones, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Sampson, Tyrrell, and Washington counties
  • Mandatory Evacuations have been issued for: Brunswick, Carteret, Currituck, Dare, Hyde, and New Hanover counties

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Keep track of Hagerty’s Hurricane Dorian coverage here:

Hurricane Season 2019