Southeast Prepares for Hurricane Dorian: Emergencies Declared in Georgia, North Carolina

Officials in Georgia and the Carolinas were urging residents along the coast to prepare for a possible strike from Hurricane Dorian, which strengthened into a major hurricane on Friday.

Ahead of expected impacts from Dorian, Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency for 12 Georgia counties on Thursday afternoon. The emergency declaration makes state resources available for preparations and storm response.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency on Friday. He also implemented a price-gouging law as a result of the emergency declaration.

"It is illegal to charge excessive prices during a state of emergency," Attorney General Josh Stein said in a tweet.

In Hampton, Georgia, Atlanta Motor Speedway announced that its camping facilities have been opened to take in hurricane evacuees, if needed.

The prospect of another damaging hurricane was especially difficult for residents in South Georgia who endured the devastation of Hurricane Michael a year ago and Hurricane Irma in 2017. Farmers suffered $2.5 billion in crop losses from Hurricane Michael, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and many are still trying to recover.

"A lot of folks are still recovering from Irma two years ago and Michael last year," Jeremy Kichler, a University of Georgia extension agent in Colquitt County who works with local farmers, told the AJC. "I don’t know if we can stand another one."