Hurricane Isaias downgrades to category three as evacuation orders are issued along US Gulf Coast – live updates

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As we mentioned earlier, parts of Florida, Alabama and Georgia have declared states of emergency.

In parts of Alabama and Florida, mandatory evacuation orders are also in effect, which direct people to leave a specific area due to immediate danger.

Alabama

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey announced mandatory evacuation orders for all non-residents, tourists and visitors in key counties likely to be heavily impacted by the storm, including all of Baldwin County and parts of Mobile County.

Residents of Mobile’s most vulnerable coastal areas are also encouraged to evacuate voluntarily, “before conditions deteriorate,” the county’s emergency response agency said on its webpage.

Florida

Local officials have issued mandatory evacuation orders in a handful of coastal counties along the Florida Panhandle, including Escambia County, where Pensacola is located, as well as Okaloosa, Walton and Franklin counties.

Florida Sen. Rick Scott encouraged residents of designated areas to evacuate as quickly as possible, warning in a social media post: “DON’T WAIT! Get out NOW!”