Officials in South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia urged residents to finish their storm preparations as Isaias pushed north along the Southeast coast.
Evacuations were ordered for several coastal communities in North Carolina, where Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency.
Isaias was expected to regain hurricane strength and possibly move ashore between Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Wilmington, North Carolina, later Monday with strong winds, flooding rainfall and storm surge flooding.
(MORE: The Latest Forecast Track for Isaias)
In South Carolina, hurricane warnings are in place for Georgetown and Horry counties. Three coastal counties in North Carolina are under a hurricane warning: Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender.
Here is a look at developments in the Carolinas and Georgia.
South Carolina
As of Monday morning, Gov. Henry McMaster had ordered no evacuations.
The South Carolina Department of Transportation sent at least eight crews from inland counties to coastal counties to help with repair and cleanup after the storm passes.
Emergency management officials in the city of Charleston said flooding is possible with a high tide at 9 p.m. local time Monday and from storm surge and heavy rainfall. Sandbags were made available for residents beginning at 8 a.m. Monday.
The city also made free parking available in four garages so residents could avoid street flooding. Pumps are being stationed in low-lying areas.
The Town of Hilton Head Island announced late Sunday it would close its beach access points and community parks on Monday, the Island Packet reported. The newspaper said very few businesses and homes were boarded up.
North Carolina
Officials in Dare County, which encompasses the Outer Banks north of Ocracoke, met again Sunday morning and decided not to extend evacuations.
All visitors and residents were told to leave Hatteras Island starting at noon EDT Saturday, according to a bulletin from Dare County, because of the possibility of Highway 12 being cut off. The first round of evacuations was for visitors. Residents and property owners were under an evacuation order starting at 6 a.m. Monday. The order applies to the villages of Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras Village.
(MORE: In the Era of Coronavirus and Social Distancing, Is It Safe to Go to a Hurricane Shelter?)
Emergency Management Director Drew Pearson said swimming is prohibited in the Atlantic Ocean off Dare County because of the potential for deadly rip currents.
The state Department of Emergency Management announced Saturday that an evacuation order for visitors to Ocean Isle Beach would go into effect at noon and at 7 p.m. for visitors to Holden Beach.
Evacuations for Ocracoke Island were announced Friday. Residents and nonresident property owners were ordered to evacuate beginning at 6 a.m. Saturday.
Currituck County officials on Sunday morning also decided not to issue an evacuation order. The county did declare a state of emergency effective at 7 a.m. Sunday.
Cape Hatteras National Seashore was closed on Sunday, according to a news release.
Brunswick County officials announced two shelters would be available if needed, but they urged residents to consider shelters "as a last resort" because of the coronavirus.
Kure Beach, Oak Island, Bald Head Island and Surf City were among the municipalities declaring states of emergency in advance of the storm.
Many of the beach communities had issued mandatory evacuation orders for visitors and renters.
Gov. Cooper’s request for a federal emergency declaration for 25 North Carolina counties was approved, which authorizes federal assistance for storm response.
On Sunday, Cooper said, "Our state has weathered more than our fair share of storms. We know how to plan, prepare and respond when it's over. Nothing about that has changed. But this time, we’re going to do it with a mask on. Helping your neighbors and loved ones is even more important as this storm approaches."
Georgia
The state Department of Transportation began closing coastal bridges in advance of the storm.
In Brunswick, the Sidney Lanier Bridge on State Road 25 in Glynn County was closed at 6 a.m. Monday. Savannah's Talmadge Bridge on U.S. 17 is scheduled to close at 2 p.m. Monday if wind conditions mandate.
The bridges will have to be inspected after the storm passes, so the closures will remain in place until further notice.
The Coast Health District suspended all operations, including coronavirus testing, on Monday because of the potential for wind and rain associated with Isaias.
No evacuations have been ordered in Georgia.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
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