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Residents evacuated in some areas of the Bahamas and most major resorts were closed as Hurricane Dorian neared the Caribbean nation's northwest islands. At greatest risk are the islands of Great Abaco and Grand Bahama.

Any remaining tourists were sent to government shelters in schools, churches and other buildings, according to the Associated Press.

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"My home is all battened up, and I'm preparing right now to leave in a couple of minutes. ... We're not taking no chances," Margaret Bassett, a ferry boat driver for the Deep Water Cay resort who chose to leave her home, told the AP. "They said evacuate, you have to evacuate. It's for the best interests of the people."

Ferry service was canceled and Grand Bahama International Airport in Freeport also closed. Nassau's airport was scheduled to remain open.

(MORE: The Latest Forecast for Hurricane Dorian)

Prime Minister Hubert Minnis pleaded with residents to heed evacuation warnings.

“I want to remind you, homes, houses, structures can be replaced," Minnis said during a Saturday press conference. "Lives cannot be replaced."

Dorian is expected to start impacting the islands early Sunday morning and continue overnight into Monday. Storm surge between 10 and 15 feet is forecast for Abaco and Grand Bahama islands.

Most of the evacuees were coming from Sweeting Cay, a small fishing town that is only about 5 feet above sea level, the AP reported. It could be left completely underwater by the storm surge.

"Hoping for the best, that the storm passes and everybody is safe until we return home," fisherman Tyrone Mitchell said. "All the ladies and children evacuated, and we have about six or seven men that (will) ride out the storm."

A hurricane warning was in effect for the northwestern Bahamas.

"I'm really worried," Kevin Adderley, a 48-year-old business owner who was securing his mechanic shop in Freeport, told the AP. "I'm going to bunker down home with my kids."

Government offices closed at noon on Friday and schools were also closed.

Shelves were stripped of canned food and water in some stores, and long lines formed at gas stations.

Officials noted that the Bahamas has taken a hit from a hurricane in each of three previous years: hurricanes Joaquin in 2015, Matthew in 2016 and Irma in 2017.

Minnis also advised any Bahamians visiting or living in Florida to closely watch the hurricane's track as it moves into the Atlantic Ocean.