Friday, Sept. 10 - Tropical Storm Floyd is declared a hurricane. Monday, Sept. 13 - The hurricane, now category 4, takes aim at the Bahamas. Evacuation orders are issued beginning with voluntary evacuations in Chatham County starting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 14 - Chatham County Emergency Management officials issue a mandatory evacuation order for the area's islands effective at 8 a.m. The U.S. Coast Guard orders the port of Savannah evacuated. Roads are jammed as area residents try to flee inland.
Gas stations are jammed as people try to fuel up for their trip out.
Some area banks close, leaving some customers strapped for cash. Emergency officials in Beaufort and Jasper order the area evacuated. Wednesday, Sept. 15 - As a category 3 storm, Floyd heads toward Savannah but turns north. It lashes at South Carolina as those residents prepare to be hit. SavannahNOW's Hurricane Guide provides all the information you need to prepare for, survive and recover from a storm.