Coastal Ga. residents urged to watch for Tropical Storm Erika

By The Associated Press

Posted 1:12PM on Thursday 27th August 2015 ( 9 years ago )

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Emergency officials on the Georgia coast are urging residents to start preparing for possible trouble from Tropical Storm Erika.

The Chatham County Emergency Management Agency on Thursday said Savannah-area residents should have disaster supply kits and evacuation plans ready in case Erika threatens the southern East Coast next week.

On Thursday the storm was dumping heavy rain on the tiny Caribbean island of Dominica while moving west toward Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami says Erika has the potential to strengthen into a hurricane and there's a chance it could reach Florida by Monday. However, forecasters say they are "unusually uncertain" as to how powerful the storm will become or what path it will follow.

Jack Beven, senior hurricane specialist, tracks the movement of Tropical Storm Erika as it moves westward towards islands in the eastern Caribbean, at the National Hurricane Center, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2015, in Miami. Tropical storm warnings have been issued for Puerto Rico, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, and the Leeward islands. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

http://accesswdun.com/article/2015/8/332128/coastal-ga-residents-on-alert-for-tropical-storm-erika