5 dead as Hurricane Dorian slams into the Bahamas

Mandatory evacuations orders will go into effect starting Monday at noon for several South Carolina counties, Gov. Henry McMaster announced in a news conference.

Here are the counties that will in the order:

Residents can use this map to determine their zone.

McMaster added that schools and government offices will be closed until further notice starting Tuesday morning in Jasper, Beaufort, Colleton, Charleston, Berkeley, Dorchester, Georgetown and Horry Counties.

The Grand Bahama Utility Company began disconnecting water service throughout the island of Grand Bahama at 7 p.m. ET in preparation for Hurricane Dorian, according to a notice from the company.

The company called on residents to finalize their water storage arrangements by that time.

Martin County has 784 people staying in its four shelters, according to Sheriff William Snyder. As part of the county's preparations for Hurricane Dorian, 20 additional sheriff's deputies have been dispatched to help with the mandatory evacuation order.

“We are within 20 miles of an apocalyptic hurricane coming ashore on the Treasure Coast," Snyder said. "If it does what the models are predicting, we will be okay. If you're being told to evacuate and you don’t evacuate, you're taking the chance of a life time."

Martin County Director of Emergency Management Michelle Jones said Uber is offering free roundtrip rides to shelters for up to $20.

Comcast is opening free WiFi to everyone in the state of Florida. Verizon is providing unlimited calling, data, and texting for customers. AT&T is waiving data overage charges for affected Florida residents.  

American Airlines has added eight airports in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina to its travel alert, which includes capped fares and waived baggage fees.

Airport operations have also been suspended at two airports in the Bahamas and three airports in Florida, American Airlines said in a news release. The travel alert currently includes 20 airports. If a customer chooses not to fly to/from an airport covered by the current waiver, American Airlines will waive change fees for future travel.

The new airports added to the alert are:

The current travel alert allows customers to rebook without change fees. Customers can reschedule their travel on aa.com by retrieving their reservation, or by contacting American reservations at 800-433-7300 in the US or Canada.

FARES

While there are limited seats remaining before the storm hits, American Airlines has capped fares at a maximum of $499 each way for main cabin seats, and $699 for premium cabins, on direct, single leg flights from all cities covered under the travel alert in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

These fares will apply for flights out of locations in Florida through September 4 and the eight Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina locations through September 6.

BAGS AND PETS

American is waiving fees for two checked bags and in-cabin pets for flights to/from all cities covered under the travel alert in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

For cities covered under the travel alert, these fees are waived through September 4 for flights out of Florida locations and September 6 out of the eight Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina locations.

In order to accommodate as many bags as possible on aircraft, American Airlines will accept up to two free checked bags per traveler.

REFUNDS

If an American flight has been canceled or excessively delayed, customers may cancel their itinerary and request a refund by visiting its website. Customers who booked through a travel agent should contact their agency directly.

Schools in Broward County, Florida will be closed on Tuesday, Mayor Mark Bogen said Sunday.

The county remains under a tropical storm watch. Officials are also asking residents to conserve fuel at this time.

Here are more updates the mayor gave the community at a press conference this afternoon:

A local state of emergency will go into effect at midnight in the city of Jacksonville.

Mandatory evacuations for zones A and B in the city will take effect at 8 a.m. Monday.

All city and government offices and Duval County schools will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Neptune, Jacksonville and Atlantic Beach will be closed starting tonight. St. Johns River water taxi has suspended service starting on Sunday.

City bridges will close when winds reach 40 mph. Shelters will open Monday at 10 a.m.

In Jacksonville Beach, Florida, the mayor is expecting a curfew. The sale of alcohol will be suspended in a few hours pending an announcement.

St. Lucie County has about 210 people in shelters, Howard Tipton, St. Lucie County administrator, said Sunday afternoon.

"In the special needs shelter we have about 40 to 45 people," Tipton said in a Facebook Live press conference. 

Local government agencies will remain closed through Thursday, Tipton said. The Emergency Operation Center is currently at level 2, and will go to level 1 — the highest level of activation — tomorrow at 8 a.m. ET. 

School closures around Florida continue as Hurricane Dorian approaches the US.

Miami-Dade Schools will close Tuesday, according to a press conference officials held Sunday. 

Both Duval County Public Schools and St. Johns County Public Schools will close Tuesday and Wednesday, according to websites for both districts.

Brevard Public Schools will be closed through Wednesday, according to a tweet the district sent Sunday afternoon.

A hurricane warning has been issued from the Juniper Inlet to the Volusia/Brevard County line, according to the National Hurricane Center.

A hurricane watch has also been issued for the area stretching from the Volusia/Brevard to the Flagler/Volusia County line.

The new warnings and watches came in the NWS's 5 p.m. ET Dorian update.

In addition, a storm surge warning has been issued from Lantana to the Volusia/Brevard County Line and a storm surge watch has been issued from the Volusia/Brevard County Line to the Flagler/Volusia County Line.

Below is a summary of the watches and warnings currently in effect from the 5 p.m. NHC Advisory:

A storm surge warning is in effect for:

A storm surge watch is in effect for:

A hurricane warning is in effect for:

A hurricane watch is in effect for:

A tropical storm warning is in effect for:

A tropical storm watch is in effect for: